History

Intent

At Bryn Offa C E Primary School we aim to inspire inquisitive, curious and discerning historians who have the confidence to think critically, ask questions, and have the skills to explain and analyse historical events with evidence. In order to prepare pupils for their future learning in History, our curriculum will introduce them to key concepts including power, invasion, settlement and migration, empire, civilisation, religion, trade, achievements of humankind, society and culture. We wish for our children to have a flourishing understanding of the implications of key acts and events that changed the course for the respective countries, civilisations and communities and how they reverberate in our society today.

Implementation

Our history curriculum at Wenlock is in line with the National Curriculum and our teaching and planning is supplemented by the Curriculum Maestro programme. We have customised the specific sequence of lessons so that the golden thread of narrative is prominent and clear; giving the children a coherent grasp of chronology and the impact of different civilisations on the world. This sequence ensures that the historical skills of the children are built upon year on year.

History is taught for the entirety of the Autumn and Summer terms. Each lesson is inquiry based, which fosters a sense of curiosity in the children, ensuring that they have the opportunity to ask more questions to enhance their own learning and/or communicate their findings by answering the question.
This will be supplemented with dedicated collective worships to teach the whole school about a key figure or event in history that affected the globe. Through Heritage Days, the children will have the ability to learn and share their heritage and cultures and celebrate the similarities and differences. With their historical skills, they will be able to evaluate how key points in history have brought them here to learn at Wenlock

In order for children to know and understand more in each area of history studied, there is a structure to the lesson sequence whereby prior learning is always considered and opportunities for revision of facts and historical understanding are built into lessons. This process will be ongoing in order to allow for this revision to become part of good practice and to help build a depth to children’s historical understanding. Children need to be equipped with the processes (both skills and “second order” concepts) in order to become historians. We will ensure that researching and communicating findings progress alongside concepts of change, continuity, causation, consequence, similarity, difference and significance. Through revisiting and consolidating these processes, children will build on prior knowledge to develop new skills and challenges. Teachers will consider the needs and interests of each cohort to ensure they are planning learning experiences that will enable the children to learn skills and knowledge that will enthuse and help them to understand more securely at the appropriate level.

Impact

Historical technical vocabulary will be displayed, spoken and used by all learners. Whole-school and parental engagement will be improved through the use of History-specific home learning tasks and opportunities suggested in lessons and overviews for wider learning. We want to ensure that History is loved by teachers and pupils across school, therefore encouraging them to continue building on this wealth of historical knowledge and understanding, now and in the future. Impact can also be measured through key questioning skills built into lessons, child-led assessment such as success criteria grids, mind maps and summative assessments aimed at targeting next steps in learning.

By the time the children leave Wenlock they will:

Covered each objective within the National Curriculum
Experienced learning through enquiry, interactive workshops and trips
Explored the many events in history and understand their impact and influence on the world
Be confident to question and challenge the validity and morality of sources of evidence and events
Have an understanding of chronology and how different countries and cultures are linked
Be able to evaluate the positive and negative impact of a prominent person or event

Useful Websites

Progression in History

progression of history.pdf