History

INTENT

At St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that a well-rounded History curriculum will allow children to gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Our History curriculum draws upon the immediate and wider local area, enabling children to develop a deeper understanding of their locality. 

Through our History curriculum, children are the historians. We ensure that children: 

Gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of the past 

Have opportunities to be curious and ask questions 

Think critically 

Debate different viewpoints 

Understand the complexity of people’s lives and the process of change. 

History is carefully planned and structured to ensure that learning is linked to previous learning. By the end of Year 6, children will have a chronological understanding of British history and use the above skills to compare and make connections between the past, today’s society and their own identity. We aim to launch each topic with a ‘Stunning start’, in order to inspire, excite and engage children with History. Some examples include: 

Trip to Newhaven Fort to learn more about World War II (Upper KS2) 

Roman Experience Day (Lower KS2) 

Black History Day (Whole school, EYFS – Y6) 

IMPLEMENTATION

Early Years Foundation Stage  

At St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School, although they do not study history as a distinct subject, the children enjoy learning about their surroundings right from the Foundation Stage. They start by taking an interest in the lives of people who are familiar to them, as well as developing their knowledge of the world around them. This includes places in the local area and recognising certain job roles within the community e.g. police officers and nurses. Children start to talk about past events in their own lives, prompted with questions such as

What do you think? 

 Tell me more about? 

What would happen if…? 

In preparation for KS1, children will begin to ask their own questions and are encouraged to produce short prayers verbally. 

Key Stage 1

In Key Stage 1, the children develop an awareness of the past, using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time. As they order a small number of events, they must recognise that those events and people fit within a wider chronological framework. They should look at why people did things and what happened because of this. 

Children will begin to use a wide vocabulary of everyday historical terms, to compare the ‘now’ and ‘then’. When introduced to historical sources and stories, they should be encouraged to ask and answer questions, as well as distinguish between factual evidence and fiction. 

Above all, we aim for History to excite our children. For example, Year 2 explore Rosa Parks using role play. The children recreate the Bus Boycott scene to provoke meaningful conversations about why she did what she did and what happened due to her brave actions. 

Key Stage 2

Building on the historical skills from KS1, children should continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study. They should note connections, contrasts, trends and impact over time and continue to extend their subject-specific vocabulary appropriately. 

They will devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity, and difference, as well as construct informed responses. They will use a range of primary and secondary sources to do this and begin to evaluate the validity of these sources e.g. fact and opinion sources. 

In KS2, it is also essential that children communicate their information in different and creative ways, including the use of technology e.g. PowerPoints, iPads etc…  

IMPACT

As children progress through St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School, they will develop a deep knowledge, understanding and appreciation for the past and its impact on their current lives. Children will know more, remember more, and understand more about History, because new learning builds upon, extends and uses previous learning and skills.

Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and questioning, to ensure children develop their sense of curiosity about the past. Independently and collaboratively, our children will reflect, think, discuss, and evaluate the past through lines of enquiry.  

Through regular school trips and contextual learning, our children will be determined historians, who embrace opportunities to undertake high quality research across a range of History topics. We hope to inspire our children to be passionate about the past and always keen to discover more.

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.