At Southway, we strive to deliver a History curriculum that inspires children to be critical thinkers about the world we live in. We have developed a curriculum that allows for the acquisition of knowledge and skills as well as the opportunity to apply these new skills in different contexts. Our curriculum:
- Will fire pupils’ curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world.
- Encourage thinking about how the past influences the present, especially developing an understanding of the influence of Britain and also its influence on the wider world – including short – term and long – term implications.
- Appreciate achievements as well as ‘mistakes’ of mankind in the past.
- Help students develop a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people. Foster a sense of identity and an increased understanding of pupils’ own position in their own community and the world.
- Develop a range of historical enquiry skills and abilities – particularly those related to finding out about the past, explaining what happened and what people then and now think about what happened.
- Aid children in grasping an understanding of abstract historical terms and concepts.
- Allow children to expand their own historical perspective by applying their understanding to new contexts.
At Southway, teachers bring the history curriculum to life and engage children through a range of exciting topics and a variety of stimuli, including key texts, historical artefacts and events, theatre workshops and school trips.
As a staff, we maintain strong links to the National Curriculum and incorporate an enquiry-based approach to children’s learning about key historical events and people. This allows the children to develop their respect for what has already happened which shapes where we are today, incorporating the school’s values such as kindness and teamwork when learning about the past.
We develop our Medium Term Plans drawing on historical themes in the termly topics, making links with other subjects wherever possible, including: art, science, R.E., English and Geography. Links are made to termly themes and other curriculum subjects where appropriate, and these are identified on a termly individual Medium Term Plan.
Long-term plans identify individual historical units taught across the year group phases. A planned progression of skills built into the history curriculum, means that the children are increasingly challenged as they move through the school, developing their resilience in this area.
History is promoted through our school with specialist enrichment days to mark key events such as Remembrance Day in November. Children’s work is celebrated through high quality displays and assemblies. The local area is also fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes.
By the end of Year 6 children will be able to discuss and/or demonstrate in books:
- Explain how our historical knowledge is based on information from a variety of different sources.
- Make connections, comparisons and note trends over time and start using historical language.
- Explain their chronological understanding of British, local and world history.
- Regularly address historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance.
- Develop and form responses that are informed and include thoughtful choice and organisation of relevant historical information.
