History
Intent
At Alexander Hosea Primary School we aspire to deliver a high quality history education that enables children to gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Teaching equips children to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments and develop perspective and judgement. Our History curriculum helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and the relationships between different groups. Through the History curriculum we aspire for our children to better understand their identities as well as the challenges of their time.
The primary aims of our History curriculum are to ensure all pupils:
- know and understand the history of the United Kingdom as a coherent and chronological narrative
- know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world (ancient civilisations, the expansion and dissolution of empires, characteristic features of past non-European societies)
- gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of abstract terms such as ‘empire’, ‘civilisation’, ‘parliament’ and ‘peasantry’
- understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance
- understand the methods of historical enquiry
- gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts
Implementation
At Alexander Hosea coverage of the National Curriculum for History at Key Stages 1 and 2 is ensured by the use of detailed curriculum maps. The curriculum maps give the National Curriculum objectives, a progression of historical skills, relevant vocabulary, timelines, resources and opportunities to enrich pupil’s knowledge and understanding through suggested activities and visits.
Details of what topics are taught in each year group are listed below:
| EYFS | |
| Year 1 |
Changes Within Living Memory - Toys Significant Individuals - Brunel Significant Individuals - Queen Victoria & Queen Elizabeth II |
| Year 2 |
Events Beyond Living Memory - The First Flight |
| Year 3 | |
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Year 4 |
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Year 5 |
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Year 6 |
Knowledge is gained through the application of historical skills such as using primary and secondary sources of evidence to investigate the past and there is a clear progression of this through the Key Stages. They develop chronologically secure knowledge and mental timelines of the British Isles and the wider world. In order for our children to think like historians they are taught to investigate different accounts of historical events and explain why some accounts may differ. They regularly address and devise historically valid questions and construct informed responses. Pupils demonstrate their knowledge and understanding by using historical terms within discussion, debate and by producing different genres of writing and projects.
Impact
Through high quality provision and teaching of History at Alexander Hosea the children show curiosity. They become thoughtful and knowledgeable historians who have a solid understanding of the history of these islands and the wider world.
Learning journals, final outcomes and pupil conferencing demonstrate a sequence of lessons and progression in children’s knowledge, understanding and application of skills.
Our close links with Yate Heritage Centre, local historians, use of artefacts and visits to historical sites and exhibitions further afield help bring history alive to our pupils and it is a joy to see them engaged and interested in this area of the curriculum.