History

“A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Marcus Garvey


Intent

At St Agnes, we intend for every child to leave our school with a strong understanding of the past, and how important events and eras of history have shaped the modern world in which we live.

We want our learners to:

  • Develop an inquisitive and curious mind about the past, creating a sense of awe and wonder

  • Make strong links between the similarities and differences of the present and the past

  • Forecast how these events will shape our future

  • Act as historians, analysing primary and secondary sources materials

  • Compare a range of types of sources and draw their own conclusions using evidence

  • See the value and interest in visiting places of historical significance

  • Find fascination in the need to imagine what life was like in the past

Our history curriculum aims to develop children who are curious about the past and understand its relevance to their lives today and their future.

Implementation

We use the Connected Curriculum for humanities, which enables us to deliver our history curriculum in a coherent and meaningful way.

Curriculum structure:

Through the Connected Curriculum, our history teaching:

  • Makes meaningful connections between historical periods and events

  • Links history with other curriculum areas where appropriate

  • Ensures learning is sequenced coherently, building on prior knowledge

  • Develops children's chronological understanding progressively throughout the school

Teaching approach:

Our history curriculum ensures that pupils:

  • Work as historians, developing the skills to analyse and evaluate sources

  • Engage with both primary and secondary source materials

  • Compare different types of historical sources

  • Draw their own conclusions using evidence

  • Develop critical thinking skills

Historical enquiry skills:

Throughout their time at St Agnes, pupils will:

  • Ask and answer historical questions

  • Analyse primary and secondary sources

  • Compare different types of sources and identify their reliability

  • Use evidence to support their conclusions

  • Understand cause and consequence

  • Recognise similarity and difference between time periods

  • Understand historical significance

  • Develop increasingly sophisticated historical vocabulary

Enrichment opportunities:

We enhance our history curriculum through:

  • Visits to places of historical significance

  • Opportunities to handle artefacts and historical objects

  • Experiences that bring history to life and help children imagine what life was like in the past

Impact

Through our history curriculum, pupils at St Agnes will:

  • Leave our school with a strong understanding of the past

  • Understand how important events and eras of history have shaped the modern world in which we live

  • Have an inquisitive and curious mind about the past, with a sense of awe and wonder

  • Be able to make strong links between the similarities and differences of the present and the past

  • Forecast how historical events will shape our future

  • Act as historians, confidently analysing primary and secondary sources

  • Compare a range of types of sources and draw their own conclusions using evidence

  • See the value and interest in visiting places of historical significance

  • Find fascination in imagining what life was like in the past

  • Have a secure chronological understanding of British and world history

  • Understand the methods of historical enquiry and how evidence is used to make historical claims

  • Be equipped with the historical knowledge and skills needed to understand their place in the world

HIstory Progression