History

Intent

Our aim at Lydiard Millicent CE Primary School is to encourage our pupils to develop an appreciation, understanding and a thirst for knowledge of the past. Our intention is to improve every pupil’s cultural and historical understanding of the world around them, including their own heritage and the local area.

In line with the National Curriculum, the curriculum at Lydiard aims to ensure that all pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world, which helps to stimulate pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. Topics are carefully planned, informed by the National Curriculum and linked to previous learning, building a chronological timeline of different time periods and civilisations. Our curriculum facilitates learning which enables the pupils to become grounded in their local history, as well as generating a global perspective, whilst understanding the impact these periods and civilisations have had on shaping Britain.

Implementation

History gives us an understanding of who we are, and where we came from. Our aims are to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for History, equipping pupils with knowledge about the history of Britain and how it has influenced and been influenced by the wider world. We ensure the progressive development of historical concepts, knowledge and skills through careful planning, and aim to inspire in all our pupils a curiosity and fascination about Britain’s past and that of the wider world, including ancient civilisations and empires.

In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in history, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. In KS1, pupils are introduced to learning about changes in living memory and beyond living memory, by learning about the lives of significant people of the past, understanding the methods of historical enquiry and beginning to ask and answer questions about the past. In Lower KS2, pupils learn about the history of Britain from the Stone Age to the Norman Conquest, creating a timeline into and around which a wider range of topics such as Ancient Greece and WWII are placed in Upper KS2.

History is taught as a half-termly or termly topic, focusing on the knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum, to build an in-depth knowledge about a particular period in history, or to understand how an aspect of life has changed through time. The History topics frequently form the core of our cross-curricular approach to teaching, supporting and engaging our pupils with work in many other subjects, including English, Art, Music and RE. In this way, children are able to gain a richer and deeper understanding of each particular period in time.

We aim for our children to enjoy and love learning about history by gaining this knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of educational visits. 

Impact

Children will enjoy History and historical experiences and will want to find out more.

The children will be encouraged to research independently to further their own enjoyment and fascination about the topic or subject (eg through homework activities or independent research).

Evidence of work will show secure knowledge and skill coverage and development, with cross-curriculum links and supported work where necessary.

As they progress through the school, children will have an increased understanding of key areas: chronology; similarity and difference; continuity and change.

Children will be able to use specific vocabulary relating to History.