History

To inspire a curiosity of the past. Our children at Wilbraham Primary School will become critical explorers by being exposed to a rich, complex and diverse set of historical people and places.

Intent:

At Wilbraham Primary, our staff have worked creatively to ensure History lessons are engaging and challenging, sparking the curiosity of our children which in turn encourages each child to become inquisitive about the past.  We aim to build upon prior historical knowledge, using metacognitive skills alongside a progressive curriculum to create a sound basis for understanding of both Britain and the wider world equipping the children for future learning. We want all our children to develop a keen interest in History through our knowledge and skills-based curriculum, ensuring they understand how the past has a bearing on both the present and future, identifying key areas of impact upon the present. When examining evidence, as historians, we aim to ensure that our children think critically using a variety of sources to develop their own opinions, which they can support with their developing and past historical knowledge with confidence and a greater understanding. Our curriculum ensures there are opportunities for pupils to learn about the ways in which diverse individuals and events have changed life in Britain and beyond. We aim to encourage our pupils to understand other people, their beliefs, thoughts, values, and experiences, and to develop an understanding of society and their place within it.

Implementation:

Children are encouraged to work as historians, through exposure to a variety of sources – including visits and fieldwork - developing their ability to ask perceptive questions, critically interpret and question the past. Understand the chronology of events in Britain and the wider world. As children move through school, they begin to recognise that different things were happening in different places in the world at the same time. Throughout the curriculum there is a focus om chronology, to help children understand where the period of history they are studying fits within their knowledge to date of the past.  Use an enquiry-based approach through which they are taught key historical knowledge in a variety of ways. First-hand sources, or where not possible replicas or pictures are used in all units of work to support the children in being historians, developing the skills to find out about the past.  Learn and explicitly use key historical vocabulary which is planned and developed explicitly with regular opportunities to be revised and reactivated. Cross-curricular learning, where appropriate, is implemented in order to support and deepen historical knowledge. Are challenged to undertake high quality research using a range of mediums and present their findings confidently, both orally  developing oracy skills and in exercise books. Gain an ability to think, reflect, debate, discuss and evaluate the past by formulating and refining questions and lines of enquiry.

Impact:

Pupils’ work, in written, oral and photographic forms, is used to secure and demonstrate children’s learning. It informs teacher assessment, both formative and summative, and is used by subject leaders as part of the monitoring process. Children will have opportunities to ‘work like a historian’ by using historical vocabulary in their speech and writing; looking at and evaluating sources of evidence; constructing arguments. The subject leader talks to pupils about their learning as part of the monitoring process. Children’s books are used to guide discussion and provide the subject leader with the information required to measure how much of the powerful knowledge, core vocabulary and key history skills have been remembered and understood.