In KS1 pupils begin by exploring their own lives and recent history, they then learn about the lives and legacies of prominent individuals such as Walter Tull.
At KS2 key events and concepts are taught in chronological order, beginning with the Stone Age up to and including World War 2, which will help pupils develop their knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Our curriculum aims to inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past.
History at Hallow
“The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.”
Theodore Roosevelt.
Intent
At Hallow School, our teaching of history will help pupils gain a secure knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. The curriculum is structured in a way that allows for children to make links between current and previous learning. Teachers use the long-term plans for history to make comparisons between historical periods previously taught, developing children’s chronological knowledge and understanding from the Stone Age to present day.
We want children to be curious to know more about the past and to have the skills required to explore their own interests. History lessons focus on working as historians and developing historical skills and there are many opportunities for the curriculum to be enriched through historical visits, visitors and events held in school. We aim to enable children to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. It is important for children to develop a sense of identity through learning about the past and we want them to know how history has shaped their own lives.
Implementation
Our History curriculum is taught:
- So that lessons are appropriately pitched and challenging and are designed to inspire and support learning, providing opportunities to explore the past
- Through carefully sequenced lessons that demonstrate progression building upon prior knowledge and enabling children to apply it to new learning
- Using timelines so that chronology is embedded and children understand how different periods of history link together
- By ensuring that key vocabulary is incorporated alongside different sources of evidence – both primary and secondary – to help bring history to life within the classroom
- Through historical visits and activities where children are able to develop a greater understanding of the past in their local area and across the world
Impact
By the end of their time at Hallow, children will have:
- A secure knowledge and understanding of people, events and contexts from the historical periods covered.
- The ability to think critically about history and communicate confidently in styles appropriate to a range of audiences.
- The ability to consistently support, evaluate and challenge their own and others’ views using detail, appropriate and accurate historical evidence derived from a range of sources.
- The ability to think, reflect, debate, discuss and evaluate the past, forming and refining questions and lines of enquiry.
- A passion for history and an enthusiastic engagement in learning, which develops their sense of curiosity about the past and their understanding of how and why people interpret the past in different ways.
- A respect for historical evidence and the ability to make robust and critical use of it to support their explanations and judgements.