History

Vision:

At Grateley Primary school the delivery of the History curriculum will be broad and in-depth, covering British and World history and inspiring pupils’ curiosity about the past. Children should be introduced to a variety of civilisations, eras and significant individuals in addition to exploring the history of their own local area. This knowledge should be supported by a sound understanding of chronology where comparisons are made within and across different time periods.

The History curriculum is supported by recognition of national and worldwide events that celebrate the key events and individuals from the past e.g. Remembrance Day and Black History Month. These could be recognised through assemblies, presentations, discussions and ceremonies and will help pupils to value key contributions made by others and reflect on their own understanding of how the past influences the present.

Skills are taught progressively to ensure that children are able to understand how we learn about the past and then use that knowledge to critically assess it. There should be a strong focus on assessing cause, consequence, significance, continuity and change using a variety of different sources. At the end of Year 6, children will use the skills they have been taught by conducting their own independent enquiry. A key focus at Grateley through high quality inclusive practise is introducing and explicitly teaching appropriate vocabulary.

‘A people without the knowledge of their past History, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.’ Political Activist Marcus Garvey.

 Intent:

The History curriculum meets the Statutory Guidance from Year 1-6. 

The History curriculum is planned with the essential knowledge through ‘Chronology’ because we want our children to develop their knowledge and understanding of events that have taken place in the World past and present and can activate prior knowledge from the previous History learning.

At Grateley we teach the essential knowledge through the lens of chronology, characteristics, cause and effect, historical significance and interpretation as well as enquiry, continuity and change and organisation and communication because we want the children to understand the knowledge and skills to be a Historian.

The Grateley Values are taught through the History lessons as well as weekly assemblies. Some of the assemblies are planned around historic events such as the Gunpowder Plot and Remembrance Day. Through these opportunities, children are taught about teamwork, opportunity, challenge and respect.

Through History enquiry, children learn about the local community, e.g. Danebury, Army Flying Museum in Wallop, Hook Court and the National History Museum.

At Grateley, we believe that it’s important to put learning in context so we plan trips, visits, History boxes, texts etc to try and make an historic event or learning, real life.

 Implementation:

Early Years

History in Reception focuses on the individual children, families and backgrounds. Historical skills such as asking questions are developed. History is taught through Discovery Time and adult led sessions. The curriculum follows the children’s interests and anything relevant to the children. Staff communicate with family and guardians to keep up to date with the children’s news. A key area focussed on during the Early Years is the development of vocabulary. It is a focus in Aspiration 7 through being curious and asking questions…. I wonder what/if… about people, places and the natural world around them.

 Key Stage One and Two

All children at Grateley learn about History with the opportunity to immerse pupils in a specific time period, teaching them a wide range of historical vocabulary and skills both specific to the discipline.

Skills are taught progressively to ensure that children are introduced to how we learn about the past, allowed to engage with a variety of sources and shown how to use the knowledge they acquire to critically assess the past. The assessment of significance, cause and consequence, similarities and differences, and continuity and change should be done as discrete lessons.  

History teaching should bring the past alive for children and help them to see how it has shaped the world we live in. As such, teachers should be creating an immersive experience through the use of artefacts, school trips, theatre groups and re-enactments. There should be plenty of opportunities for using ICT to research, display and present content and this should be modelled and supported by the teacher.re-enactments.

Impact:

We want the children at Grateley to be equipped with the knowledge, skills and concepts that will enable and engage them.

Please see the attached Geography progression overviews.