History

Intent

Our History Curriculum aims to inspire children to be curious and creative thinkers who develop complex knowledge of local and national history and the history of the wider world. We want children to develop the confidence to think critically, ask questions and be able to explain and analyse historical evidence. We aim to build an awareness of significant events and individuals in global, British, and local history and recognise how things have changed over time. History will support children to appreciate the complexity of people’s lives, the diversity of societies and the relationships between different groups. Exploring History allows children to appreciate the many reasons why people may behave in the way they do, support children to develop empathy for others while providing an opportunity to learn from mankind’s mistakes. Our History Curriculum aims to support children in building their understanding of chronology in each year group, making connections over periods of time and developing a chronologically secure knowledge of History.  

Implementation

To meet the aims of the National Curriculum for History and in response to the Ofsted research into the subject, we have identified the following key strands: -

• Substantive Concepts
• Disciplinary Concepts
• Historical Enquiry
• Chronological Awareness

Our curriculum emphasises the importance of chronological knowledge across all strands to support the development of substantive concepts, historical skills, and historical enquiry. These strands are interwoven through all our history teaching to create engaging and enriching learning experiences which allow children to investigate like a Historian would.

Each unit of learning allows children to explore the place in time of the period they are learning and make connections and comparisons in other parts of the world. Children will develop their awareness of the past in Key Stage 1 and will know where people and event fit chronologically. This will support children in building a ‘mental timeline’ they can refer to throughout their learning in Key Stage 2 and be able to identify connections, contrasts, and trends over time.

Units are organised around an enquiry-based question and children are encouraged to follow an enquiry cycle (Question, Investigate, Evaluate/Conclude and Communicate) when answering historical questions.

Children will develop their understanding of the following key concepts: -

• Change and continuity
• Cause and consequence
• Similarities and differences
• Historical significance
• Historical interpretations
• Sources of evidence

These concepts will be encountered in different contexts during a study of local, British and world history. Children will have a varied opportunity to learn how historians use these skills and will confidently develop and use their own historical skill set.

Substantive concepts such as power, trade, invasion, and settlement are clearly identified in lower Key Stage 2 and revisited in Upper Key Stage 2 allowing knowledge of these key concepts to be deepened. These concepts are revisited in different contexts meaning that children begin to develop an understanding of these abstract themes which are crucial to their future historical learning.

Our curriculum follows a spiral model where previous concepts, skills and knowledge are returned to and built upon.

Lessons are engaging and hands on allowing children to experience the different aspects of an historical enquiry. Children will participate in activities involving substantive and disciplinary concepts, developing their knowledge, and understanding of British role in the past and that of the wider world. Children will develop their knowledge of concepts and chronology as well as in-depth knowledge of the context being studied.

Knowledge organisers for each unit support children in building a base of knowledge in recalling key facts and vocabulary.

Strong subject knowledge is vital to be able to deliver a high-quality History Curriculum. We have a clear cycle of CPD for staff to ensure that they feel fully skilled to deliver our History Curriculum.

Lessons are timetabled in unit blocks to ensure that learning is closely connected and that children can immerse themselves in their Historical learning and enquiry.

Impact

The impact of our history curriculum is constantly monitored through assessment, learning walks and pupil discussions.

Children will leave school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education. They will be enquiring learners who ask questions can make suggestions about where to find the evidence to answer the question. They will be critical thinkers who are able to make informed and balance judgement based upon evidence and knowledge of the past.

Overall, we intend that the impact of our history curriculum is that children will: -

• Know and understand the history of Britain, how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world.
• Develop and understanding of the history of the wider world, including ancient civilisations, empires, non-European societies, and the achievements of mankind.
• Develop a historically grounded understanding of substantive concepts-power, invasion, settlement and migration, civilisations, religion, trade, achievement of mankind and society.
• Form historical arguments based upon cause and consequence, continuity and change, similarities, and differences.
• Have an appreciation for significant individuals, inventions and events that impact our world both in history and the present day.
• Understand how historians learn about the past and construct accounts.
• Ask historically valid questions through an enquiry-based approach to learning to create structured accounts.
• Explain how and why interpretations of the past have been constructed using evidence.
• Make connections between historical concepts and timescales.
• Meet end of key stage expectations outlined in the national curriculum for history.