Why is History important?
History is important because it helps children to understand and interpret the past, and therefore, the present. Through history, children develop a deeper cross-cultural awareness and understanding of their own and others’ heritage, through looking at evidence and asking and answering questions. In History, we can analyse successes and failures, which, in turn, teaches us to learn from our mistakes.
Intent:
By the time children leave St Mary’s it is our intention that the coherently planned and sequenced curriculum will have enabled them to accumulate a rich web of knowledge as well as to be able to read widely and wisely to build on that base of knowledge and to also have an eagerness to learn more and so to succeed in secondary school They will be able to retain, recall and explain their learning and apply it to become ‘agents of change’ . They will share their witness through Christian values with the knowledge, skills and relationships they need to flourish as human beings; enhance the lives of those around them; and make God’s world a better place.
Implementation:
History is taught in half termly units, alternating with geography. Our History Curriculum is designed to start with the world closest to our youngest children, and gradually expand to include the breadth of the National Curriculum requirements. Skills and knowledge are planned to progress and build and pupils are encouraged to reflect, remember and make links as they learn. Through following the history of Britain and its invaders and settlers; we consider the importance of ancient civilisations and empires and how they may have influenced us; we think about changes in living memory and beyond living memory. A whole school timeline which builds with the children’s learning journey, enables them to see each topic within its context and gradually become familiar with dates and chronology; taking into account significant events, eras and people. Teaching uses the Recap & Recall format of questions at the start of each lesson, covering questions based on chronological understanding, key vocabulary and learning from a previous unit. Planning and questions use explicit links to the school curriculum, helping the children to make links and build on their learning skills from other subjects such as English and Geography. Furthermore, we teach discrete tier two and three vocabulary is taught in each topic area to support knowledge acquisition and enhance the children’s vocabulary. The curriculum teaching specific historical skills such as asking appropriate questions, interrogating sources and making judgments are regularly modelled, practised and refined. Hook Days for History and Geography enable children to recall and remember their recent studies, make links to previous learning and spend a day immersed in this area of the curriculum twice a year. Where possible children learn through fieldwork trips and outside learning support our teaching. The school's Gospel values are embedded in each topic and children are regularly encouraged to discuss their learning in the light of these.
Impact:
We firmly believe that History is an ‘umbrella’ subject because of its capacity to make tangible and effective connections across subjects. History’s fundamental role lies in helping children to understand the world and its past, how the past has changed the present and possibly future and that many countries history links to our own. This learning goes beyond the results of the statutory assessments and primary life and enables children to become global citizens. Progress in History is measured using weekly evidence from high quality teaching and learning and Hook days during each term.