History
Our Vision
- Substantive concepts: discovering and understanding the driving forces behind events in human history.
- Disciplinary concepts: building the understanding necessary to become young historians.
- Historical enquiry: developing analytical and investigative methods for approaching historical questions.
Intent
At Pennington C of E Primary School, history in our school will fulfil Early Years Foundation Stage framework and national curriculum requirements.
It will be consistent, offering challenges to all and be flexible and responsive to the needs of all learners preparing children for life beyond Pennington and with the skills to thrive. Our history scheme of work aims to inspire pupils to be curious and creative thinkers who develop a complex knowledge of local and national history and that of the wider world.
We want pupils to develop the confidence to think critically, ask questions, and be able to explain and analyse historical evidence. Through our scheme of work, we aim to build an awareness of significant events and individuals in global, British and local history and recognise how things have changed over time.
History will support children to appreciate the complexity of people’s lives, the diversity of societies and the relationships between different groups. Studying history allows children to appreciate the many reasons why people may behave in the way they do, supporting children to develop empathy for others while providing an opportunity to learn from mankind’s past mistakes. Our history scheme aims to support pupils in building their understanding of chronology in each year group, making connections over periods of time and developing a chronologically-secure knowledge of historical events.
Implementation
At Pennington our implementation process involves careful progressive planning across school ensuring that the EYFS and national curriculum objectives and requirements are met. Committed staff members applying a consistent approach to the teaching of history.
Class teachers having a clear knowledge of their year group history. Promoting, practising and developing independence and team work alongside high expectations and pride in our work. Our Kapow history scheme units have a focus on chronology to allow children to explore the place in time of the period they are studying and to make comparisons in other parts of the world. In EYFS, children explore the concept of history by reflecting on key experiences from their own past, helping them understand that they each have their own histories.
Then, they engage in activities to compare and contrast characters from stories, including historical figures, deepening their understanding of how individual lives fit into broader historical narratives. Over the course of the scheme, children develop their understanding of the following key disciplinary concepts:
- Change and continuity.
- Cause and consequence.
- Similarities and differences.
- Historical significance.
- Historical interpretations.
- Sources of evidence.
Impact
The impact of our history scheme can be constantly monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities, quizzes, learning journeys and work book content. Pupils should leave school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and beyond. They will be enquiring learners who ask questions and can make suggestions about where to find the evidence to answer the question.
They will be critical and analytical thinkers who are able to make informed and balanced judgements based on their knowledge of the past.