Intent

Historical study at Hazelbury Primary School is based on four concepts: Historical interpretations and Investigations; Chronological Understanding; Knowledge and Understanding of Events, People and Changes in the Past and Presenting, Organising and Communicating.

Our high-quality history curriculum aims to foster a love of history and to inspire pupils’ curiosity and fascination about the past which enables them to become confident, creative and independent learners. With an engaging history curriculum, pupils strive to discover more about the past and enjoy all that history has to offer. Understanding the past and constantly evaluating it helps pupils to become knowledgeable future citizens. 

Our teaching equips pupils with a chronological understanding of British history from the Stone Age to the present day and how it has influenced and been influenced by the wider world. They are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods and their own lives and appreciate how things have changed over time. Interlinked with this are studies of world history, such as the ancient civilisations of Greece and the Egyptians.

Implementation

In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in history, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school so children achieve depth in their learning. 

Teachers identify the key knowledge and skills of each topic using our progression of knowledge and skills map. These lessons are carefully planned and structured with consideration given to ensure that the skills and knowledge taught are developed and are progressive across topics throughout each year group across the school. Skilfully framed questions are built into lessons to deliver deeper understanding. Through progressive teaching, pupils retain prior-learning and explicitly make connections between what they have previously learned and what they are currently learning. 

Through enquiry, pupils learn to ask insightful questions to encourage analytical thinking, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. Pupils self-assess against the question for the lesson where they record what they have learned at the end of every lesson comparative to their starting points.

Learning is further motivated through cross-curricular activities like English texts that are linked to topics studied, extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom are embedded into practice including visitors and workshop which give all students an opportunity to question the past. 

Impact

Our curriculum ensures that pupils are equipped with historical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world. We offer experiences that encourage pupils to undertake new life challenges now and in the future. They will become aware of how historical events have shaped the world that they currently live in and understand the process of change as they explore the diversity of society. 

A huge emphasis on developing pupils’ enquiry skills will help them to pursue their own interests and future goals. Pupils will become increasingly critical and analytical within their thinking and make informed and balanced judgements based on their knowledge of the past. Throughout their learning, pupils will understand society, gain a sense of their own identity and the challenges of their time.

Enrichment

The development of cultural capital is vital for our pupils and their future life chances. Through exposure to a variety of meaningful experiences, visits and workshops, we ensure pupils have opportunities to link knowledge acquired to ensure knowledge is retained. These opportunities are carefully selected to deeper pupils’ understanding of the world around them.

Visits have included: The British Museum, Tower of London, Victoria & Albert Museum, The Monument, Mountfitchet Castle, West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, including visits to local nursing homes to give pupils opportunities to acquire oral history from local residents. 

This year, as part of the 75th Anniversary VE Day celebrations, we are planning on working with Sampford Peverell Society in Devon. Pupils from our school were evacuated to Tiverton, Devon during the Second World War and memories and historical evidence will be shared.