“Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.” Edmund Burke
Intent, Implementation and Impact
Intent
- History has always been held in high regard at Swain House Primary and we pride ourselves on providing creative learning environments, theme days and classroom displays
- We want children to develop a love for history. In addition, we aim to inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about history that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
- Make full use of resources within the immediate and wider locale enabling children to develop a deep understanding of the history of their locality
- Want pupils to understand about the past and how history will shape their future.
- Provide an effective curriculum to develop historical curiosity and knowledge.
- Inspire our children to develop important skills in investigating and questioning and enquiry and argument.
- Pupils will be engaged in and be motivated by a planned sequential learning programme. The key skills of chronological understanding, knowledge of events, people and changes, how history is interpreted, research and questioning and finally presenting their findings will be effectively taught.
- Pupils should have the appropriate knowledge for next stage of learning.
Implementation
- History is taught in blocks throughout the year, so that children achieve depth in their learning. Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each topic and consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group across the school.
- By the end of year 6, children will have a chronological understanding of British history from the Neolithic Age to the present day. They are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods and their own lives. Interlinked with this are studies of world history, such as the ancient civilisations of Greece and the Egyptians.
- Cross curricular outcomes in history are specifically planned for, with strong links between the history curriculum and literacy lessons enabling further contextual learning.
- The local area is also fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice eg Saltaire, Bradford Industrial Museum, Yorvik, Skipton Castle and Eden Camp.
- Use of drama and Talk less teaching strategies.
- Planning is informed by and aligned with the national curriculum. Consideration is given to how greater depth will be taught, learnt and demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.
- Outcomes of work are monitored to ensure that they reflect a sound understanding of the key identified knowledge. Within our knowledge-rich approach, there is a strong emphasis on people and the community of our local area.
Impact
- Outcomes in Theme and literacy books, evidence a broad and balanced history curriculum and demonstrate the children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge.
- Pupils are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods and their own lives
- Pupils are encouraged to self evaluate learning at the end of every session and are actively encouraged to identify their own target areas, with support from their teachers. Children are also asked what they have learned comparative to their starting points at the end of every topic. Through quizzes, presentations and other effective evaluation strategies.
- Emphasis is placed on analytical thinking and questioning which helps pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world and are curious to know more about the past.
- Through this study, pupils learn to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. Regular school trips provide further relevant and contextual learning.
- Pupils will have the appropriate knowledge for next stage of learning.
- Pupils will have developed a lifelong curiosity and interest in history We will have inspired pupils’ curiosity to discover more about the past and to develop an understanding that enables them to enjoy all that history has to offer.