At Castle Primary School, we aim for children to explore history with a critical and enquiring mind. One that ignites a curiosity for the past with which they learn how history, in Britain and the wider world, has shaped the world we live in today.
In line with the 2013 National Curriculum, children are taught the chronological narrative of the British Isles, how the lives of significant individuals have shaped the nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world. Alongside this, they will look at significant aspects of the history of the wider world. Through these, they will use and develop their understanding of historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance. Using these tools they will be taught to dig deep by looking critically, drawing comparisons, making connections, analysing trends and framing questions to create their own structured accounts as independent learners. Using methods of historical enquiry they will be encouraged to apply their knowledge and make connections to gain historical perspective that sticks, as historians themselves.
Our three learning intentions (to create independent, resilient and empathetic learners) underpin the teaching and learning experiences. By encouraging and teaching the children to reflect, we ensure they dig deep and connect their learning further to ensure it sticks, and can be applied in the future.
In order to foster historical curiosity, the delivery of our history curriculum is hands-on, exploring artefacts and sources so children can examine and enquire just as a historian does. This critical viewpoint helps to foster resilience in our learners as they learn to examine sources and build up a full picture for themselves. History lessons are discrete and taught in a block each year so that children are fully immersed in the subject and a clear learning journey can be created. By the end of year 6, children will have a chronological understanding of British history from the Stone Age to the present day. Interlinked with local history are studies of world history, such as the ancient civilisations of Greece and the Mayans. Learning is taken outside wherever possible and resources from the Museum Service, Rural Life museum and History Association are utilised to enrich lesson design and ensure an engaging and meaningful learning journey is created. Knowledge organisers are used as learning tools but are also monitored to ensure that they reflect a sound understanding of the key identified knowledge. Planning is informed by and aligned with the national curriculum, ensuring the children gain, not just the knowledge needed, but the historical skill for this knowledge to be fully understood and embedded.
Children come to understand that history and specific events have influenced many aspects of our culture, beliefs, routines, and developments of today. Through reflection, they are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods, their own lives and the lives of others to help create an independent historical viewpoint. With this, they create a rich tapestry of historical knowledge and an empathy for how the future is often impacted by history.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) follows the ‘Development Matters in the EYFS’ guidance which aims for all children in reception to have an ‘Understanding of the World; people and communities, the world and technology’ by the end of the academic year. We provide children with opportunities to develop their understanding of ‘history’.
