HISTORY
Curriculum Map
Intent
The main goal of the National Curriculum for History is to encourage pupils to develop their interest and curiosity in History. We aim for History to be accessible to all children. A pupil’s reading and writing ability should not be a barrier to them developing and demonstrating their understanding of History. Our intention is for oracy tasks to provide pupils opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of historical knowledge and concepts. Helping pupils make connections across the History curriculum to build on their existing knowledge is a priority. Pupils are now completing History lessons on Onenote on ipads. Our intention is for educational technology to enhance the learning experience of pupils, to make learning more accessible and to strengthen feedback, assessment and recall.
Implementation
History and Geography are covered under the topic Humanities. Each year group studies three half-termly History units and three Geography units (see our Humanities curriculum map). We take an enquiry-based approach to History with lessons focused around exploring evidence (for example, primary and secondary sources). Each lesson has a specific focus on disciplinary knowledge (as outlined in the Historical Association Progression of Skills) and substantive knowledge.
Each unit has a main inquiry question, which pupils answer in Lesson six (a recall lesson) with reference to the five lessons previous lessons. Knowledge Organisers display key vocabulary (two words from each lesson) and knowledge, and they are used as a reference point and recall tool.
Lessons begin with a number of starter slides which state the disciplinary skills focus and briefly recall prior learning. This includes a Recall Grid, in which pupils recall the previous lesson’s key learning. Learning tasks often have an oracy focus and may include group discussions, historical enquiry using evidence, role-play, speeches, drama and ranking activities. Tasks respect the discipline of History and allow pupils to demonstrate their understanding of the key learning points. Lessons finish with a next step in which pupils answer the lesson enquiry question. Lessons are now being completed on pupil ipads. As well as increasing general efficiency, his enables pupils to record oracy tasks such as discussions, speeches and role-plays, which can be replayed during whole-class feedback.
In Early Years, History is taught in the specific area of ‘Understanding the World’, through which pupils begin to make sense of their own life-story and family’s history.
Impact
Recent priorities have been de-colonising the History curriculum, making learning accessible to all children, helping children develop and recall their knowledge, and incorporating educational technology. Subject monitoring, including pupil voice and book looks, learning walks with school governors and the local authority over the past two years, and our Spring 2023 Ofsted inspection have evidenced that pupils of all backgrounds and attainment at our school enjoy learning History, are more confident talking about their learning (for example when using Knowledge Organisers as a recall tool) and are able to accurately discuss key learning using historical vocabulary.
How the curriclum is adapted for SEND
We endeavour to make learning accessible for all pupils. Communication in Print is widely used and especially helpful to pupils with SEND and EAL. Pupils are supported in mixed ability groups and visuals are used extensively. Oracy resources are used in History to support discussions. Some children from our ARP attend mainstream History lessons in the afternoon.
Home Learning
There is no homework for History. However, a range of challenges are held each term to encourage children to engage with both local history and wider history related to our curriculum.
Cultural Capital
Pupils in every year group attend at least one History trip. Workshops are also organised to consolidate learning. These experiences build our pupils’ cultural capital, help History come alive and receive positive feedback from pupils.
Resources
We are a member of the Historical Association:
Historical Association – the UK national charity for history
