History

History

At Ashbury Meadow Primary School, we view History not only as a series of facts and dates, but as an opportunity for pupils to become detectives who explore the past in an exciting and engaging way, always remembering that history starts in a local context. Through our history curriculum for Years 1–6, we offer opportunities to build upon the knowledge and skills learnt in EYFS, within the specific area of learning Understanding the World.

Our history curriculum for Years 1–6 is enquiry-based, with each unit focused around a key question to give learning purpose. At Ashbury Meadow, we use the Rising Stars curriculum to structure and support planning for our history curriculum. This ensures progression between year groups and provides teachers with planning support. The curriculum has been adapted to reflect the context of our school and locality.

History allows our children to compare and contrast, to examine how and why things have changed, to learn about historical figures, and to develop their research skills. We want pupils to understand how people lived in the past and to compare this with modern life. We meet the needs of our cohort by providing first-hand experiences through handling real artefacts and, wherever possible, arranging visits to relevant sites of historical interest in the region or inviting specialists to Ashbury Meadow for in-school workshops. The global team plans and organises whole-school focus days for events such as global cultural celebrations. We also have links with the Historical Association to ensure that our pupils have access to a broad range of high-quality resources.

Our history spiral curriculum is focused on six key substantive knowledge concepts:

• civilisation

• invasion, settlement and migration

• religion and beliefs

• power and rule

• trade

• legacy

Through well-considered key enquiry questions, supported by sub-enquiry questions, pupils use historical disciplinary knowledge to gain an understanding of topics and the substantive knowledge that underpins them.

The teaching of history will:

• Explore a wide range of sources from which we learn about the past

• Fire pupils’ curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world

• Encourage thinking about how the past influences the present

• Help pupils develop a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events

• Foster a sense of identity and an increased understanding of the historical significance of their community through local studies

• Develop the skills of enquiry, investigation, analysis, evaluation and presentation

• Build upon prior learning to ensure progression throughout the school

• Develop pupils’ understanding of academic vocabulary by providing twelve key words for each historical unit

• Make cross-curricular links

• Teach pupils about significant historical figures who have impacted the world we live in

• Develop a deeper understanding of history over time by making links between events and people using the six substantive knowledge concepts on which our curriculum is based

Local area studies

Each year, the whole school takes part in Project Week. This week has a local history and geography focus and deepens children’s understanding, appreciation and knowledge of our local area, while enabling pupils to learn and practise age-appropriate geography and history skills. We plan for each year group, including EYFS, to take part in a local area study based on a key enquiry question. This not only enables pupils to practise key skills in a purposeful manner, such as mapwork or historical research at the library, but also supports British values, particularly developing pride in and understanding of the area in which they live. We plan this week in May to coincide with the History Association’s Local History Month, providing an opportunity to promote, highlight and celebrate the local history that surrounds us.

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