Our History curriculum begins in a spirit of exploration and enquiry seeking to develop children's temporal awareness. Our school aim is for children to know and understand relevant historical events and to identify the challenges and opportunities that face and have faced humanity in the past, present and future. Children's learning takes place both in and out of the classroom so that they remain connected to their communities, both local and global and see that education extends beyond the walls of school. 

Intent 

‘Leaders take on or construct a curriculum that is ambitious and designed to give all learners, particularly the most disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) or high needs, the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life’ EIF 2019

‘Today is either the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning. Today we are making history.’ ECKHARD PFEIFFER

At Outwoods Primary School we aim to deliver a history curriculum that is accessible to all and that will maximise the outcomes for every child so that they know more, remember more and understand more. Our teaching of history will help pupils gain a secure knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. The curriculum is structured in a way that allows for children to make links between current and previous learning. Teachers use the long term plans for history to make comparisons between historical periods previously taught, developing children’s chronological knowledge and understanding from the Stone Age to present day. We want children to be curious to know more about the past and to have the skills required to explore their own interests. History lessons focus on working as historians and developing historical skills and there are many opportunities for the curriculum to be enriched through historical visits, visitors and events held in school. We aim to enable children to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. It is important for children to develop a sense of identity through learning about the past and we want them to know how history has shaped their own lives. This is why the local area is fully utilised to achieve the curriculum outcomes.

Implementation 

We take an enquiry-based approach to teaching History whereby each topic is framed upon a key question that guides the teaching. Across the whole school curriculum, children study the key historical concepts of chronology; significance; change and continuity; cause/consequence and interpretation. These are taught within the historical contexts outlined within the National Curriculum.

Our literacy lessons are linked to the topics as much as possible and enrichment activities are planned in order to help immerse the children in the topic helping to make the learning more memorable. There are selected substantive concepts (outlined in the curriculum map) that reoccur in topics across the key stages, which enable children to gain a good understanding of chronology and make links between different periods of history.

These links are outlined in each topic overview to ensure teachers understand the children’s prior learning and use timelines to help support their chronological understanding. Assessments are carried out on Target Tracker at the end of each topic which address children’s understanding of the enquiry question.  Books are monitored throughout the year and pupil voices are conducted to ensure the content/skills are covered as planned and that children are retaining their knowledge and understanding.

The topics are planned on a two year rolling program (in KS 2). This allows for good use of shared resources and planning and enrichment activities. 

Impact 

Our History curriculum is a rigorous approach to teaching the subject. Our children develop a sound overview of the past and the ability to analyse it with a critical mind. Our class work shows how our enquiry-based approach gives real purpose and focus to each topic; each lesson planned carefully to address our overall question. Our rigorous curriculum map shows a whole school curriculum that has been planned carefully to teach the main historical concepts through a range of contexts in a way that creates links between periods and events.

Children will be able to make links to previously studied topics and make comparisons. Children will be enthused by their History topics, through our cross-curricular approach and enrichment activities which immerses them in the period; creating intrigue and enjoyment. Our assessments and monitoring allow us to see the impact of our teaching, guide future planning and ensure that our standards of teaching are high.