History
Intent
At Nelmes Primary School we follow a History topic approach. The topics are informed by the National Curriculum and the choices we have made to reflect the significant historical events in our wider local area. Each year group studies termly or half-termly topics that are driven these History skills and knowledge.
At Nelmes Primary School, our intent for History is to teach a rich and progressive curriculum, and widen and deepen the children’s knowledge of their world and its past. We aim to equip our pupils with a strong set of historical skills, helping them understand and engage with the 21st century.
The aim of the History Curriculum is to:
- 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.
- Ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement.
- Develop an understanding of the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.
- Discover links and connections to the History they learn and the wider community and locality.
- Differentiate between source types and explain how interpretations in History may differ
- Foster a positive attitude to History as an interesting and engaging part of the curriculum
- Develop personal qualities such as perseverance, resilience, patience, aspiration and self- belief through a sense of achievement and success
- Develop confident and articulate communicators
- Develop and use their skills in enquiry, investigation, analysis, evaluation, and debate
- Develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas, which can and are used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
The mapping of History across the school shows clear progression in line with age related expectations and the 2014 National Curriculum. Yearly objectives build progressively over the key stages, revisiting skills to ensure mastery. The curriculum has been designed to meet the needs of the pupils in the school community.
Implementation
In the Early Years, children start to develop their historical enquiry and talk about past events in their lives, the lives of family members and give reasons why some people’s lives were different in the past.
History is specifically planned for and medium and long term plans are informed by and aligned with the national curriculum along with the school's own developed scheme of work.
In Key Stages 1 and 2 the school has identified the key knowledge and skills of each History area. Consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group and across the school. Outcomes of work are regularly monitored to ensure that they reflect a sound understanding of the key identified knowledge and skills.
At the start of each topic, we engage the children with a question, which provokes discussion. This allows the teacher to assess the children’s prior knowledge of the subject and also allows the children to gain further understanding of the areas of learning.
At the end of the topics the children have time to reflect on their learning. Enrichment is planned for throughout the year groups to provide the children with opportunities to learn about the topics in more detail, widening and deepening the children’s understanding.
Impact
The history curriculum and outstanding teaching at Nelmes’ Primary School ensures that all pupils are well equipped for their next steps in their education and for life in the 21st century. Pupils have excellent attitudes to learning and are motivated and interested learners who understand the importance of being fully engaged in their learning.
Monitoring of lessons, planning, books and learning walks show that children are given a range of activities from the different aspects of the history curriculum, with children being provided with support and challenge when needed and appropriate.
Precise and key questioning is used in our History lessons to assess the children’s understanding of their knowledge and skills. Each half term the children are asked to answer a response question, highlighting to the teacher the depth of the child’s understanding.
Historical understanding, as well as children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is further supported through whole school drives, such as our specific annual celebrations of Remembrance day, Black History month and enrichment days linked to specific History topics, enabling eras to come alive, for the children.
Click on the link below for more information about History at Nelmes:
