Intent

At Bethersden Primary School, we aim to deliver the History curriculum in a cross-curricular form, through our Wider Learning sessions. Our aim is to encourage children to become historians. They will participate in historical enquiry, ask perceptive questions, consider evidence and develop effective arguments as a result. Through the study of History, are children will be able to consider similarities and differences between themselves and people in the past, and use this to develop empathy, not only of those who have gone before, but within modern life.

Implementation

At Bethersden Primary School, these skills are embedded within history lessons and developed throughout their journey of the history curriculum. By the end of their primary education, children will have a chronological understanding of British history from Stone Age to present day. They are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods and their own lives. Interlinked with this is the need to look at world history such as the ancient civilisations of Greece and the Mayans.

The content and principles underpinning the history curriculum are taken from the 2014 National Curriculum. We use the National Curriculum Programmes of study to guide us on the content and focus of each objective to inform our curriculum. These units are enriched by cross curriculum work when appropriate. We will also have access to the Hamilton plans and teachers will be encouraged to look elsewhere for additional material including the on-line resources, which we have purchased, and the History Association, which we are members of. We also encourage a project based approach to learning with an emphasis on people and community in our local area. Children learn through enquiry based learning opportunities to gain a greater understanding of our local area.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) follows the ‘Development Matters in the EYFS’ guidance which aims for all children in reception to have an ‘Understanding of the World; people and communities, the world and technology’ by the end of the academic year.     Teachers, in parallel classes, plan together to create engaging and informative teaching and learning opportunities which take into account prior learning, plan for opportunities for assessment and identify suitable future targets.

Impact

At Bethersden Primary School we strive to create a supportive and collaborative ethos for learning by providing investigative and enquiry based learning opportunities. Emphasis is placed on analytical thinking which helps children gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world and fires children’s curiosity to know more about the past. Through this study children learn to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement.