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A360 min

History

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Intent

The intent is to shape our history curriculum to ensure it is fully inclusive to every child. Our aims are to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for History; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum that encompasses the British Values throughout. Pupils will gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world and inspire their curiosity to know more about the past. As our pupil’s progress, they will become equipped to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. We want pupils to understand 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.

Implement

The implementation is that History will be taught within topic areas, usually History is the overarching theme that then lends itself to other curriculum areas. Explicit knowledge and skills are taught in a rich and meaningful context, following the progression of skills. We aim to provide first hand experiences for the children to support and develop their learning by visiting local historical sites or having specialists into school. Teaching and learning will be monitored throughout the year. Children are expected to be immersed in accurate and rich historical language which is to be promoted and evident. Learning will be displayed around school as well as artefacts encouraging children to devise their own historical questions and find answers.

Impact

The impact will be measured by class teachers during termly data drops. Teachers will use children’s books, as well as their knowledge of how children respond in lessons to assess their learning of the year group milestones based on the following grades: Emerging, expected or exceeding. This is then calculated into the percentage of children achieving at each level. Children are equipped with historical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world.  We want the children to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about history, therefore encouraging them to undertake new life experiences now and in the future.

Primary

History Position Statement

In delivering History at Academy 360, we aim to inspire our children’s curiosity to know more about the past.

Learning about the past and the methods used to study sources and draw conclusions helps pupils understand and contribute to the world in which they live. The History Curriculum follows the new National Curriculum introduced in September 2014. A topic-based approach to curriculum planning whereby multiple curriculum areas are combined under one heading is employed within the school. Guided reading texts are also organised to fit with themes and topics being explored. The teaching of History is organised through termly or half-termly topics. 

In KS2, our curriculum is sequenced in chronological order, with each class focusing first on a period of British History and later, a period of wider world history. We have sequenced the curriculum in this way for 2 reasons. Firstly, if we want children to make links and build on prior knowledge, we feel having an understanding of history that has come before the time period being studied enables revision of past teaching and supports children in making links and understanding similarity, difference and ongoing change, whilst securing their understanding of the progression of time. Secondly, we believe that logically, it makes sense if children compare two experiences of history that are occurring in the world at the same point in time, to strengthen comparative skills and see how events in the world have influenced the history of Great Britain.

Children will have access to a broad and balanced curriculum with first hand experiences to motivate and inspire them, regardless of needs or abilities. At Academy 360 the curriculum is regularly monitored and adapted to ensure all of the learning objectives are met and that skills are taught at every level, allowing children to reach mastery level. 

Continuity is achieved through the implementation of lesson sequenced plans ensuring that previously learnt skills are built on and a common language is used. Continuity and progression should be evident through displays around the school, as well as monitoring through book scrutinies and planning. Memory joggers are used to promote recall of core knowledge and planned opportunities to revisit and deepen understanding.

Learning outside the classroom is encouraged within our History curriculum with many visits to historical sites in the local area. Trips, experiences, theme days, assemblies, topic assemblies, community events, having parents in to talk about things all create meaningful opportunities for our pupils to gain knowledge and skills from.

In history our main aims are to raise the standards of children’s historical skills, concepts, knowledge and attitudes. To develop our children’s understanding of the present in the context of the past.  Equip our children to find out about the past themselves, analyse their findings, and formulate their own opinions. To help children to develop a sense of identity through learning about the past. We also aim to create curricular links, enriching other areas of the curriculum with history.

We have recently been awarded the History Quality Mark by the Historical Association in recognition of our excellent history provision.

Curriculum priorities for 2023 - 24

  • To introduce vocab tiers to complement history planning and specific aspects of language children need to understand
  • Continue to develop links with local historical places and historians for pupil enrichment and staff CPD.
  • Develop children’s understanding of the passing of time in EYFS.

To ensure particular disciplinary concepts are regularly revisited.

Attachments

Please see the link below for an overview on the content curriculum, action plan and handbook for History.

History-Content-Overview.pdf

Secondary

Please see the link below for an overview on the Secondary curriculum for History.

History-1.pdf