History
History Curriculum Rationale
At Ormskirk CE we believe that a high-quality history education will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. Teaching should equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time. (National Curriculum 2013)
We are historians and we want our children to love history! We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be archivists, museum curators, archaeologists or research analysts. We believe that if we can Inspire our children to Aim High they can Achieve and Shine! We want our children to remember their history lessons in our school, to cherish these memories and embrace the historical opportunities they are presented with! For example, when Year 1 studied “The Stone Age”, they learnt all about the people, weapons, shelter and animals using our history timeline. We held a Stone Age Day when the children dressed up, made their own Stone Age jewellery and even got to taste stewed fruit made from berries, though not everybody liked it! One of our children said, “It was the best day ever!”
Curriculum Intent
The History Curriculum promotes curiosity and a desire to learn more about the past. We want to promote and develop our children’s understanding of the past in relation to themselves, their families, the community and the wider world. We want to equip them with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the National Curriculum but also provide them with opportunities and experiences beyond the classroom. For example, when Year 3 studied the “History of Ormskirk”, they followed the Heritage Trail that takes them through some of the sights and sounds of Ormskirk’s history. They visit many of the old buildings to find out what life was like in the ancient market town.
We want our children to respect different beliefs and cultures, co-operate with each other, respect diversity and appreciate what they have. We aim to promote British Values to ensure our children leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. For example, in the autumn term, the whole school celebrated ‘Remembrance Day’ where our pupils remembered and honoured those who suffered or died in war. The children explored why remembrance is part of modern British life, culture and heritage. The whole school observed a two-minute silence and explored why the poppy is a symbol of remembrance. Some classes created some wonderful displays around school and others created their own work inspired by John McCrae’s poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.
We provide our children with an experience of history that is stimulating and interesting. We enrich their time at school with memorable and unforgettable experiences. For example, Year 2 studied “Explorers”, learning all about Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong. They visited Manchester Airport and excitedly watched different aeroplanes take off and land. Then they looked inside an old Monarch aeroplane and sat in the cockpit using the controls. They even got to see the world-famous Concorde!
Curriculum Implementation
History is taught in line with the New National Curriculum and has been carefully planned to ensure progression in terms of key learning, knowledge and skills. Knowledge organisers are used for each topic so that children can revise, review and their subject knowledge. In our school, staff organise their own year group curriculums under the guidance of our subject leaders. Teachers plan and deliver their own lessons appropriate to the individual needs of the children. The majority of subjects are taught discretely but staff make meaningful links across subjects. They link prior knowledge to new learning to deepen children’s learning.
At Ormskirk CE, we aim to:-
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encourage a lively and enquiring approach to history where pupils become independent learners with the ability to question, communicate and solve problems
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develop an excellent knowledge and understanding of people, events, and contexts from a range of historical periods and of historical concepts and processes.
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promote the ability to think critically about history and communicate ideas very confidently in styles appropriate to a range of audiences.
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consistently support, evaluate and challenge their own and others’ views using detailed, appropriate and accurate historical evidence derived from a range of sources.
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promote the ability to think, reflect, debate, discuss and evaluate the past, formulating and refining questions and lines of enquiry.
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encourage 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.
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respect for historical evidence and the ability to make robust and critical use of it to support their explanations and judgements.
Curriculum Impact
Assessment is developed in line with our school assessment policy with links to Bloom’s Taxonomy. All teachers will use a variety of assessment techniques to monitor children’s progress. Formative assessment will be ongoing through observations and discussions with the children with the next steps discussed.
In our school, we use Earwig timelines for each child to show examples of their work and it will be assessed using Blooms Taxonomy. This is shared with parents and used by subject leaders as a way to monitor their subject.
Monitoring in history includes: book scrutiny, lesson observations and/or learning walks, children’s work (in books ad display) and pupil / staff voice.
History Progression Document
