Our History Curriculum
We aim to provide 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. History helps pupils 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.
Intent
At Chambersbury Primary School, History is held in high regard. We pride ourselves on our creative learning environment and the links that are made between the different subjects and wider school life. The History curriculum at Chambersbury is carefully planned and structured to ensure that current learning is linked to previous learning and that the school’s approaches are informed by current pedagogy. Our curriculum is designed to inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. Teaching is directed at equipping pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. It is our intent that the children of Chambersbury leave Primary School with the skills and subject knowledge needed to be a true historian and subsequent change maker.
Implementation
History at Chambersbury is focused around six key skills:
These skills are the basis of our history pedagogy from Nursery through to Year 6. We believe that by teaching and tracking the progress in these key areas, children become confident and competent historians as well as having good subject knowledge.
History is divided equally with Geography over the six half terms that make up a school year. History and Geography are considered together as it is important to us as a school that these subjects support and inform each other for a greater depth of understanding. However; clear distinctions are made to make sure children recognise the difference between the historical and the geographical. Topics are chosen and distributed not only based on the National Curriculum expectations, but also on the needs and suitability for each year group. Our curriculum, and its clear progression, is evident on our long term planning, humanities map and assessment grids. Knowledge organizers are an integral aspect of our history pedagogy, ensuring that the triangulation of teaching staff, children and parents have a clear understanding of the desired outcome of each topic, as well as any key language for that topic. Outcomes of work are monitored to ensure consistency and progression across the school at all times.
Impact
The children will have developed a deep, conceptual understanding of history. They will have the skills necessary to research, explore, discuss, evaluate and question any period from the past. The children will consider the impact had on Modern Britain and use this understanding to inform future ideas and practice.
Children will be confident historians who can make links between different time periods and events and can discuss what they know. Pupils will see History as being relevant to everyday life as well as being something that they will need as they move on through their school life and ultimately to the world of employment. They will appreciate the impact of past events and understand how people from the past have influenced modern day life.