History
Subject Intent:
Our aim is to encourage pupils to develop an appreciation and understanding of the past, to ignite children’s curiosity and to develop key historical skills. In History lessons, children have opportunities to explore sources carefully, ask questions and use evidence to come to a conclusion. Through carefully sequenced lessons, children build their historical knowledge and skills over time. Children learn about the past, but they also learn from the past; they discover the multitude of ways that past civilisations influence modern-day life.
Our skills and knowledge framework is built around 10 Big Ideas. These are global themes and concepts such as humankind, change and significance. Within these big ideas, key historical concepts have been identified, including hierarchy and power, civilisation, changes over time, chronology and significance. These key concepts are explicitly taught and developed through our history curriculum. Other substantive concepts, including empire, invasion, war, democracy, parliament, resistance and enslavement, are also sequenced and revisited over time.
It is important to teach children correct subject vocabulary, therefore we have built consistent use of historical vocabulary across the projects, due to their connected themes. For instance, children become familiar with terms, such as monarchy, government, power, democracy and hierarchy, that help them to articulate their developing historical knowledge.
There are many opportunities for the history curriculum to be enriched through historical visits, visitors and events held in school, particularly during the beginning stages of each project.
Implementation:
The history projects are well sequenced to provide a coherent subject scheme that develops children’s historical knowledge, skills and subject disciplines. Key aspects and concepts, such as chronology, cause and effect, similarity and difference, significance and hierarchy, are revisited throughout all projects and are developed over time. All projects also develop historical skills based on evidence and historical enquiry. The choice of historical periods follows the guidance set out in the national curriculum, with specific details relating to significant events and individuals chosen to present a rich and diverse account of British and world history. Where there are opportunities for making meaningful connections with other projects, history projects are sequenced accordingly. For example, the project Dynamic Dynasties is taught alongside the art and design project Taotie to give children a better all-round understanding of ancient Chinese arts and culture. All history projects are taught in the autumn and summer terms, with opportunities for schools to revisit historical concepts in some of the spring term geography projects.
Key Stage 1
In Year A (24-25), children begin the autumn term by studying the project Childhood. This project builds on children’s past experiences, including their family history and events within living memory, and works well as an introductory project. In the summer term, children study the project School Days. This project enables children to learn the history of their school and compare schooling in the Victorian period. In the autumn term of Year 2, children extend their studies to explore a broader range of periods in the project Movers and Shakers. This project explores the concept of significance and the significant people that have greatly influenced history. In the summer term, children study the project Magnificent Monarchs. This project introduces children to the challenging concepts of power and monarchy in preparation for more complex historical topics in Key Stage 2. The projects studied in Key Stage 1 provide numerous opportunities for children to explore significant historical events, people and places in their locality.
Lower Key Stage 2
In Year A (24-25) children begin the autumn term by studying the chronology of British history in the project Through the Ages. This project teaches children about the significance of prehistoric periods and the changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. In the summer term, children continue to develop their knowledge of the chronology of British history in the project Emperors and Empires. This project teaches children about the Roman Empire, its invasion of Britain and Britain’s ensuing Romanisation. In the autumn term of Year B (23-24), children learn about British history in the project Invasion. This project teaches children about the Roman withdrawal and the invasion and settlement of the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings. This project concludes at 1066, which meets the guidance from the national curriculum for British history. In the summer term of Year B (23-24), children begin their studies of ancient history by studying the overview project Ancient Civilisations. This project enables children to learn about the achievements of the earliest civilisations, including ancient Sumer, the Indus Valley civilisation and ancient Egypt.
Upper Key Stage 2
In the autumn term of Year A (24-25), children continue to build their knowledge of ancient civilisations with an in-depth analysis of ancient China in the project Dynamic Dynasties. This project enables children to study the significance and influence of ancient China and its prowess and advancements in the written word, technology and metalwork. In the summer term, children further study ancient and world history in the project Groundbreaking Greeks. This project enables children to explore life in ancient Greece, including examining the achievements and influence of ancient Greece on the western world. In the autumn term of Year B (23-24) , children study the more complex historical issues of enslavement, colonialism and power in the project Maafa. In this project, children explore a range of African kingdoms, including the Kingdom of Benin, and study Britain’s role in the development, perpetuation and abolition of the slave trade. In the summer term of Year 6, children complete their historical studies with the project Britain at War. This project enables children to study the role war has played in Britain’s history since 1066, focusing on the First and Second World Wars as crucial turning points in British history.