History

The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.

Theodore Roosevelt

Intent

At Christ Church CE Primary, we aim to offer a high-quality history education that will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. We aim to inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. We aim to enable children to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement as local, national and global citizens. Through the teaching of history, we endeavour to teach children to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time. We aim to create a firm foundation of knowledge and develop skills in order to build confidence, resilience and passion for history in our children. We aim to widen horizons and cultural capital through the learning of history.

At Christ Church CE Primary we aim to ensure our history curriculum is accessible to all, maximising the development of every child’s ability and we strive to ensure our children know more, remember more and understand more. As a result of this they will:

Increase and develop their historical skills, concepts, knowledge and attitudes;
Know and understand history as a chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world;
Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires; characteristic features of past non-European societies and the achievements and follies of mankind;
Develop and use their skills in enquiry, analysis, evaluation and argument;
Develop their interest in the past, arousing their curiosity and motivation to learn;
Learn about our local history and how historical events have impacted how we live now.

Implementation

In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in history, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. History is taught as part of a half –termly topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. At Christ Church, we ensure that history has the same importance given to it as the core subjects as we feel that this is important in enabling all children to gain ‘real-life’ experiences. For example, using the local area to look at how buildings have changed in Key Stage 1, to comparing the similarities and differences in environments and communities in Lower Key Stage 2, through to looking at an in depth study of the locality in Upper Key Stage 2.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, we follow the ‘Development Matters’ document to guide the teaching and learning of our youngest children. In EYFS at Christ Church, we understand that children begin to learn as they grow up and they are increasingly able to do more things for themselves independently. At Christ Church, we aim to allow children to explore crucial early historical skills with their emerging knowledge and understanding.

To ensure whole school consistency, our curriculum is taken from the national curriculum suggested areas of study and is taught chronologically throughout the school. Through teaching, historical artefact use and visits, we will excite and intrigue our children to find out more about events and people from the past. At Christ Church, we work to develop subject knowledge and key skills while differentiating work for all abilities.

To support our learners in history, each child has access to a knowledge organiser, for each topic, containing key vocabulary and key knowledge and skills needed for the topic they are studying. Children are encouraged to use these organisers to revise and remember what they are learning.

Impact

Our approach to the teaching of History results in engaging, high-quality lessons, which provide children with the foundations for understanding the world, that they can take with them once they complete their primary education, preparing them for life as local, national and global citizens.

Assessment is being developed across the curriculum and in History. It is used to inform planning and tracking progress and gaps. This takes place within lessons in many ways, including as a recap of previous learning at the start of the lesson or through periodic quizzes. Every topic has an end of unit piece of work to showcase learning. Staff across school use INSIGHT on a termly basis to assess statements pupils are working towards, secure in, exceeding or mastery. At the end of the academic year, each pupil will be given a corresponding level appropriate to their understanding that reflects attainment for the academic year.

Pupil voice is used throughout the year to ascertain enthusiasm and knowledge of History across school, the understanding of taught concepts and pupils’ ability to talk about History. In order to evidence the knowledge developed throughout school, each child has a History book which is being developed so it will clearly shows their progress throughout the curriculum. The introduction of the Junior Leadership Team this year has really given an extra dimension to subject leaders. They support Leaders in monitoring and improving subject areas through the curriculum.

To evidence skills developed throughout History, pupils understand and utilise subject specific vocabulary. As well as this, BLIPPIT is used to showcase displays, learning, discussions and SEND support. By the end of key stage 2, pupils will be able to:

Develop a clear understanding of chronology and can use it to talk about different periods of time;
Understand and apply subject specific vocabulary;
Learn to use a range of resources to secure their knowledge of the past;
Begin to answer questions on the past and start to question and create their own;
Have exposure to local, British and world history on order to develop their understanding.