History

Intent

Our History curriculum is designed to allow children to gain coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. We want to inspire children to be historians who make sense of the present and appreciate the complexity and diversity of human societies and development. As they move through the school, the curriculum ensures they build up their knowledge and understanding of different eras and events in History and develop skills to ensure their understanding.

Implementation

Our History curriculum reflects our school value PRIDE to enable all children, regardless of background and ability to secure the knowledge and skills they need to flourish.

It is taught explicitly during three half-termly topics throughout the year which are sequenced in chronological order, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. Each unit is based around an enquiry question which children build towards, to answer at the end of the unit.

Initially, children learn about areas of history they have some context of in Key Stage 1 (for example in Year 1 they learnt about their childhood to Victorian times). As children move through the school, they begin to learn about global history such as The Indus Valley. Their historical knowledge and understanding deepens across each unit as foundations laid in previous years are built upon.

Historical concepts and skills are revisited in different units allowing children to develop historical skills alongside their expanding knowledge. These skills include asking perceptive questions, thinking critically, weighing evidence, sifting arguments, and developing perspective and judgement. Vocabulary is embedded through storytelling which gives access to future topics e.g. the word ‘ancient’ is first introduced in Year 3 during the ‘Ancient Egyptians’ topic which is further embedded in Year 4 during the ‘Ancient Greeks’ topic.

Across each unit of work, children develop a ‘big picture’ of the era of event and where it sits within wider history. Within this, individual lessons focus on key aspects of that topic.

Alongside this experiences of the past (for example The Black Country Museum, Cosford Air Museum and Kenilworth Castle), class visits, workshops and visiting experts play an important part in enriching the children’s learning.