Curriculum Intent
History at Loughborough Primary School offers coherently planned sequences of lessons to ensure we have progressively covered the skills and concepts required in the National Curriculum. Our History syllabus aims to develop historical skills and concepts which are transferable to whatever period of history is being studied and will equip children for future learning. These key historical skills and concepts, which are revisited throughout different units, are: Historical Interpretations; Historical Enquiry; Chronological Understanding; Knowledge and Understanding of Events, People and Changes in the Past and Presenting, Organising and Communicating.
The coverage of recent history in KS1 such as ‘Toys’ and ‘Exploration’ enables children to acquire an understanding of time, events and people in their memory and their parents’ and grandparents’ memories. For KS1, we have designed a curriculum that allows topics to be covered chronologically to allow a full opportunity for children to really grasp the difficult concept of the passing of time.
The intent in KS2 is that children understand chronological order from ancient history such as ‘Ancient Egypt’ and then more modern history such as ‘WW2’. Our history curriculum allows for children to truly develop and embed a sense of time and how civilisations were interconnected.
Our Offer
Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each topic and consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group across the school. By the end of year 6, children will have a chronological understanding of British history from the Stone Age to the present day. They are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods and their own lives. Interlinked with this are studies of world history, such as the ancient civilisations of Greece and the Mayans.
Cross curricular outcomes in history are specifically planned for, with strong links between the history curriculum and literacy lessons with class reading books chosen to help enable further contextual learning. Our diverse local area is also fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice. Planning is informed by and aligned with the National Curriculum (see blue). Outcomes of work are monitored to ensure that they reflect a sound understanding of the key identified knowledge.
In order for children to know more and remember more in each area of history studied, there is a structure to the lesson sequence whereby prior learning is always considered and opportunities for revision of facts and historical understanding are built into lessons. This allows for this revision to become part of good practice and ultimately helps build a depth to children’s historical understanding. The revision and introduction of key vocabulary is built into each lesson.
Through these lessons, we intend to inspire pupils and practitioners to develop a love of history and see how it has shaped the world they live in.
Impact
Outcomes in topic and literacy books, evidence a broad and balanced history curriculum and demonstrate the children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge. Children review the agreed successes at the end of every session and are actively encouraged to identify their own target areas, with support from their teachers.
Emphasis is placed on analytical thinking and questioning which helps pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world and are curious to know more about the past. Through this study, pupils learn to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. Regular school trips around the local area and to national museums provide further relevant and contextual learning.
Impact can also be measured in every lesson through key questioning skills built into lessons and child-led assessment such as success criteria aimed at targeting next steps in learning.
At Loughborough, we want to ensure that history is loved by teachers and pupils across school, therefore encouraging them to want to continue building on this wealth of historical knowledge and understanding, now and in the future.
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