History

Intent

Through History, we aim to develop our children’s curiosity about the past and their understanding of historically important events and eras both in the history of the United Kingdom and of the rest of the world as well as the lives of significant individual figures. Our History curriculum has been carefully planned to make sure it allows coverage of relevant themes and that the children’s understanding deepens as they revisit similar ideas as they travel through the school. History is an important subject that helps children understand the world they live in and how it has changed over time. It provides a foundation for understanding different cultures, beliefs and values and helps children to appreciate the diversity of humanity. It also helps to develop skills that are important in everyday life, such as critical thinking, problem solving and communication. We want to provide children with a foundation for understanding the past, so they can make sense of the world today and develop a sense of their place in it. Through a rich and diverse curriculum, children will gain knowledge and understanding of the lives, events and achievements of people, societies, and civilizations, both past and present. The curriculum also recognises the importance of cultural and personal identity, promoting an appreciation of the diversity of human experience and the legacy of the past on the present. Through a focus on local, national, and international history, children will gain a sense of belonging and an understanding of the interconnectedness of the world over time.

How History is taught at EWPA

We teach three History units each year, alternating each half term with Geography. Our curriculum is designed to be progressive, building on previous knowledge and skills each year. The children will study a range of topics, including British history, ancient civilisations, and world history. The curriculum is delivered through a variety of teaching and learning styles, including analysing sources and videos, group work and independent research projects. Teachers make sure that there are regular opportunities for the children to refresh and revisit their previous learning through regular ‘forget-me-nots’. We have a very robust school ethos around retaining learning and all teachers practise strategies to support children with the retention of new knowledge and also to make links between their new and previous learning to deepen understanding. We use ‘Why This, Why Now?” at the beginning of each unit to help the children embed and contextualise their learning. Displays around the school also emphasise the children’s previous experiences. History teaching and learning is evaluated through lesson observations, pupil voice, and also forget-me-not retrieval and retention approaches which allow the children to continue to demonstrate their new and recall their prior learning.