History Intent
We aim to provide an engaging and interactive History curriculum at Heathcote Primary School that is accessible to all. We want children to be inspired by past events and be eager to discover more about how History has shaped our current world. We plan and prepare a range of exciting lessons, local area trips and visitors to enhance our curriculum. As a result of this our children will;
- Increase and develop their historical skills, concepts, knowledge and attitudes.
- Increase their understanding of the present in the context of the past.
- Develop and use their skills in enquiry, analysis, evaluation, and argument.
- Develop their interest in the past, arousing their curiosity and motivation to learn.
- Develop a sense of identity through learning about the past.
We structure our progression through the following areas; chronological understanding, knowledge and understanding of past events, people and changes in the past, historical interpretation, historical enquiry, organisation and communication.
History Implementation
At Heathcote, we use Curriculum Maestro to ensure we are able to provide a broad and engaging history curriculum from the beginning of your child's teaching in Early Years, throughout their time in KS1 and all the way up through to the end of KS2. Curriculum Maestro and all of our lesson objectives in history are aligned with the National Curriculum (2014), the Programmes of study for KS1 / KS2 and the 'Understanding of the World' framework in the Early Years and Foundation Stage.
All history lessons include:
- Objectives planned carefully to ensure progression of skills and knowledge across school.
- Explicit referral to historical domains in readiness for KS3 curriculum e.g. continuity and change, similarity and difference.
- Teaching history units chronologically in KS2 to support children in developing an awareness of the chronology of British history.
- Children to study significant individuals from a range of time periods, countries and cultures.
- Summative and Formative assessment through the use of low-stakes quizzes (retrieval practice) used to promote long-term learning and consolidation of history previously learnt.
- Revisiting key content and vocabulary in other subject areas.
- Theme days to bring learning to life based on topics such as Kings and Queens (Yr2), Romans (Yr3/4), Stone Age (Yr3).
- Trips, visits and workshops to enrich learning. Ancient Egyptian Portal to the Past (Yr4).
- Encouraging children to ask perceptive questions.
- Use of high quality artefacts to enhance learning such as Anglo Saxon Artefact Box (Yr4)
- Annual whole-school history focus e.g. local history study, Coronation of King Charles III, Jubilee events.
- Class art project focused on national events or days of historical significance.
History Impact
Our aim is to ensure all children at Heathcote are equipped with historical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at secondary school as they progress into Key Stage 3 and ultimately when they leave education in later life. Children will leave Heathcote with a secure chronological knowledge of history and a greater understanding of British, local and world history. With our approach, we aim to equip our children with skills and values that can be applied outside of school, such as developing their critical thinking and most importantly, a greater understanding and acceptance of the world around them.
