History
Our History curriculum here at St. Paul’s is driven by our vision and values.
Learning Together Following Jesus
Christian values are the heartbeat of our school. Seeking to be respectful, responsible, and empowering global citizens, we follow the words of St Paul, 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.' In this context, rejoicing in Jesus' love and compassion for all, we pursue excellence as we celebrate everyone's uniqueness in a broad, rich and balanced curriculum.
Intent
Our History curriculum aims to inspire curiosity and fascination about the past in Britain and the wider world, whilst developing coherent chronological knowledge. Our intention is to encourage children to think critically, ask questions, think and act as historians and evaluate evidence, which allows them to develop a broad understanding of the complexity of people’s lives and historic events.
Implementation
In History, we implement an inclusive curriculum that meets the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum whilst inspiring a love of the past. Our History curriculum is delivered through Cornerstones. This curriculum is well-planned and structured, provides cross-curricular opportunities and ensures progression and depth in learning. From Y1-Y6 there is an overarching topic per term with a historical driver. Each topic is based on the Cornerstones model, Engage, Develop, Innovate and Express.
Our St. Paul’s reception class follow the curriculum as outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. As the new History element of the statutory framework stipulates, Reception children are taught:
Past and Present ELG
• Talk about the lives of the people around them and their roles in society.
• Know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.
• Understand the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling.
This is delivered through their Cornerstones topic work.
In addition, our pedagogy and practice in reception is shaped through the Characteristics of Effective learning (DFE 2021)
Playing and Exploring - children investigate and experience things and ‘have a go’
Active Learning- children concentrate and keep trying if they encounter difficulties, they enjoy achievements
Creating and Thinking Critically- children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things
Our reception classroom provides Continuous Provision that promotes stimulating, active play, encouraging creative and critical thinking children. Children are able to practice skills, build upon and revisit prior learning and experiences at their own level and pace. We ensure there is a balance of child- initiated learning through continuous provision, and adult led activities, across the school day. Ongoing assessment is an integral part of the learning and development processes. Practitioners observe pupils to identify their level of achievement and interests. These observations are then used to inform future planning. Observations and assessments are recorded on Target Tracker and are shared with parents.
In Key Stage 1, children begin to develop an awareness of the past using historical vocabulary. They study significant people and events and begin to identify similarities and differences between different time periods. Children learn some of the ways in which we find out about the past and how events studied fit into the chronological framework.
In Key Stage 2, children build on prior knowledge and continue to develop chronologically secure knowledge of British, local and world history.
A series of stimulating lessons are planned, with clear knowledge and skills-based learning objectives and subject-specific vocabulary. Teachers assess learning in history against knowledge and skills-based learning objectives within each unit. Enrichment opportunities, such as inspirational visits, educational visits and events, provide our children with rich experiences and enhance teaching, learning and knowledge.
Our History curriculum promotes children’s Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development, ensuring that they are reflective and responsible citizens. Fundamental British Values are actively promoted in History lessons in order to prepare the children for life in Modern Britain.
Impact
Our history curriculum is high quality and ensures that children have a strong knowledge of historical events, a coherent understanding of chronology and an appreciation of the impact that history has on the modern world. Our children enjoy and love learning about history by gaining knowledge and skills, not just through learning in the classroom, but also through educational visits and visitors.