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. At Arundale Primary, History teaching (along with other foundation subjects) helps form our termly topics which create our creative and cross curricular approach to learning. We aim to offer a high-quality History education that will enables pupils to gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. We strive to inspire pupils’ curiosity to discover more about the past. Lessons are designed to equip pupils with the skills to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments and develop perspective and judgement.
The national curriculum for History aims to ensure that all pupils:
Our History curriculum aims to excite the children and allow them to develop their own skills as historians. As part of a topic lead programme, it allows opportunities for cross curricular links to be made to ensure the children have many occasions where by they can apply their knowledge and understanding.
Pupils develop an awareness of the past, using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time. They know where the people and events they study fit within a chronological framework and identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods. They use a wide vocabulary of everyday historical terms. They ask and answer questions, choosing and using parts of stories and other sources to show that they know and understand key features of events. They understand some of the ways in which we find out about the past and identify different ways in which it is represented.
Pupils are taught a wide selection of topic using the National Curriculum programme of study structure:
Pupils continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study. They note connections, contrasts and trends over time and develop the appropriate use of historical terms. They regularly address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance. They construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information. They should understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.
Pupils are taught about:
By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study. At Arundale we use summative assessment to determine children’s understanding and inform teachers planning. This is reviewed on a termly basis by the subject leader who also carries out regular learning walks and book scrutinies.