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History

Curriculum Documents

There are a number of documents that provide further information on this subject or are relevant to particular year groups. Click on the relevant title to open the document.

St Marie’s Catholic Primary School Curriculum Guide History

‘We are not makers of History. We are made by History’ – Martin Luther King, Jr. 

AIMS

At St Marie’s we work as historians Link to National Curriculum HISTORY : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-history-programmes-of-study

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INTENT

At St Marie’s, we believe that high-quality history lessons inspire all children to want to know more about the past and to think and act as historians. Through a wide range of topics, children have opportunities to investigate and interpret the past; understand chronology; build an overview of Britain’s past as well as that of the wider world and to be able to communicate historically. We aim to inspire pupils’ curiosity about the past and teach children about the diversity of societies, relationships between different groups, their own identity and the challenges of their time. We use a knowledge and skills based approach, ensuring our children develop the following characteristics as historians: 

 

  • knowledge of people, events and contexts from a range of historical periods, including significant events in Britain’s past; 

  • critical thinking about history and communication of ideas confidently to a range of audiences; 

  • ability to support, evaluate and challenge their own and others’ views using historical evidence from a range of sources; 

  • ability to think, reflect, debate, discuss and evaluate the past by formulating and refining questions and lines of enquiry; 

  •  respect for historical evidence and the ability to make critical use of it to support their learning; 

  • undertake high-quality research across a range of history topics; 

  •  develop a sense of curiosity about the past and how and why people interpret the past in different ways.

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IMPLEMENTATION

Saint Marie’s History Curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and ensures breadth, chronology and progression for all children. Individual teachers plan each topic using a medium term topic web. This informs individual short term session plans. Planning of lessons focuses on historical vocabulary, historical knowledge and historical skills. Historical skills are based on Bloom’s Taxonomy higher order questioning types of: remembering, understanding, applying, analysing, evaluating and creating which challenge and give Greater Depth opportunities. Initially, History is taught in topic week (the first week of every half term) to enable the children to immerse themselves in the topic. The older children are encouraged to undertake pre- learning tasks at home in the form of personal research, which they are given the opportunity to share in class. During this week, the majority of the timetable is devoted to topic teaching and learning. This approach, leads to excellence and enjoyment and provides a platform for further cross curricular learning, especially writing. After topic week, History skills and knowledge develop throughout the term. An assessment task is planned in advance for children to complete at the end of each topic to determine whether each pupil is at age related expectations. Where possible, trips and external providers are arranged in order to further deepen understanding of the topic, provide first hand experience and enhance the learning experience. The Early years Foundation Stage 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.

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IMPACT

Our History Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. Most children achieve age related expectations or above and children are highly motivated about their learning. We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:  

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  • A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes 

  •  An assessment task appropriate to the age of the children and the objectives covered 

  • Children invite their parents to topic celebrations to show and discuss work completed during the topic 

  • Pupil discussions about their learning 

  •  Work scrutiny and staff discussion  

  • Topic assessment sheets, collated by subject leaders to assess standards throughout the school

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