History

Intent, Implementation, Impact

Our vision is for all children to have a high-quality history education to help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world and inspire pupils’ curiosity to more about the past.

We intend that pupils will become equipped to ask perceptive questions, think critically, ponder evidence, and develop perspective and judgement. We want pupils to understand the intricacy of people’s lives, how changes occur and develop, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.

The key skills taught are Chronological understanding, knowledge and understanding of events in the past, historical interpretation and historical enquiry.

We learn through a series of enquiry-based units. Each unit begins with a key question which the children investigate as a class. Enquiry learning encourages the children to be historians.

History is taught in blocks throughout the year, so that children achieve depth in their learning. Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each topic and consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group across the school. By the end of year 6, children will have a chronological understanding of British history from the Stone Age to the present day. They are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods and their own lives. Interlinked with this are studies of world history, such as the ancient civilisations of Greece and the Mayans.
There are cross curricular links with other subjects to further develop knowledge. The local area is also fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice.

Children have access to key knowledge, language and meanings to understand History and to use these skills across the curriculum through Knowledge Organisers.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) follows the ‘Development Matters in the EYFS’ guidance which aims for all children in reception to have an ‘Understanding of the World; people and communities, the world and technology’ by the end of the academic year.

Year 2 trip to Windsor Castle

Year 4 trip to Haslemere Museum

Year 3 trip to Butser Farm

Our History curriculum is high quality, carefully structured and is planned to demonstrate progress. Historical themes have been chosen to enthuse the children and ensure that the demands of the national curriculum have been adhered to. Emphasis is placed upon the development and embedding of substantive knowledge first, before the children are then encouraged to explore this knowledge using historical disciplinary skills.

We measure the impact of our History curriculum through the following methods: speaking to pupils about their learning; evidence in books; assessments prior to and following learning and lesson visits.

By the time children leave Andrews’ Endowed CE Primary School they will have an excellent knowledge the history of Britain and selected civilizations from across the wider world. Children will have a deeper understanding of the discipline of history and the ways in which the past is studied. They will have a solid grasp on the vocabulary of history and will have learned that there are different interpretations about the past. They will be prepared for the next phase of their education and have a passion for History and a drive to delve deeper into the past.