SUBJECT LEADER: MRS DEWHURST

History Statement of Intent

To stimulate the children’s interest, curiosity and understanding about the past. We aim to provide creative high-quality History lessons to inspire and motivate our children to prepare them for their next stage of life. Pupils gain a knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Children gain a sense of chronology and through this develop a sense of identity and an awareness of the challenges of their time. Teaching should equip children to ask questions, think critically, weigh evidence and develop perspective and judgement. History teaching should help pupils to understand the complexity of pupil’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and the relationship between different groups.

History encourages critical thought, perceptive questioning and discussion. Through their work in History, children gain a sense of chronology, duration and their own cultural identity. They also gain an understanding of how events in the past have influenced our lives today. At Grindleton C.E. Primary School, we believe that high-quality history lessons enable children to understand Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Through observing and interpreting evidence, we believe that our lessons inspire children to know more about the past and to think and act as historians.

By linking learning to a range of topics/subjects, children have opportunities to investigate and interpret the past and understand chronology e.g. using the iPads to conduct their own historical research. The History curriculum is taught through cross-curricular topics, which are enhanced by visits and visitors to school.

History units have been planned to allow progression of skills and knowledge of local and global events, whilst covering the national curriculum for History within each key stage.

There is no specific ‘History’ within the Foundation Stage but it has links with the areas of learning such as Understanding the World; People and Communities; and Communication and Language. An investigative approach to finding out about historical events is identified within the characteristics of effective learning, such as thinking critically; making links; finding out and exploring.