History - LEARNING JOURNEY
Intent
At Barry Primary School, we are historians! Our aim is that, through the teaching of History, we stimulate the children’s interest and understanding about the lives of people who lived in the past through developing skills in perceptive questioning, critical thinking, weighing evidence, sifting arguments, and developing perspective and judgement.
We want our children to hold ambitions to become archaeologists, archivists, research analysts and museum curators. Underpinning all that we do in history is teaching a sense of chronology. Children explore the actions of significant figures, events in recent and ancient history and the impact these have had on change. We ensure our children understand how Britain has developed as a society and learn of historical developments in the wider world.
Children learn to value their own and other people’s cultures in modern multicultural Britain in order to develop a sense of identity and a cultural understanding based on their historical heritage.
Implementation
In Foundation Stage, our children focus on past and present. This starts from discussing how they themselves have changed from birth and memories of special occasions through to exploring people around them and the roles they carry out in society, such as famous astronauts. They also use stories to explore the past and now and are encouraged to draw upon their own experiences.
In KS1, children further develop their awareness of the past, exploring significant figures such as George Stephenson and Christopher Columbus and events such as The Great Fire of London. In KS1 they continue to further understand chronology and identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods through focussing on developments in areas such as toys and technology. They explore different sources and how they are used to inform us of the past.
In KS2 our children further secure knowledge and understanding of British history through units such as Tudor crime and punishment and World War II. They also explore local history with a particular focus on Northampton’s Boot and Shoe industry. In KS2, children also explore world history, covering units such as the Ancient Egyptians, Mayans and the Shang Dynasty. Throughout KS2 children focus on connections, contrasts and trends over time, continually developing their use of accurate historical terms. Our children in KS2 begin to develop skills in forming valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance. They develop skills in constructing informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information. Children in KS2 will explore a further range of sources to help to understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed.
Impact
The study of history ignites children’s curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world. Through finding out about how and why the world, our country, culture and local community have developed over time, children understand how the past influences the present and future.
History enables children to develop a context for their growing sense of identity and a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people.
History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time. What they learn through history can influence their decisions about personal choices, attitudes and values.
Creativity
History provides the children with opportunities for an active process of enquiry, enabling the use of the creative imagination grounded in evidence through open-ended and wide-ranging investigations.
Aspiration
The children learn about the past through primary and secondary sources. They learn how discoveries about the past are made and represented. They are inspired by the work of historians, archaeologists and museum employees and are excited by opportunities to be a part of this world of discovery.
Respect
History teaches the children to respect people from the past, learning about how their actions have impacted our everyday lives and provided a lasting legacy for the future.
Enjoyment
The children at Barry enjoy the history curriculum. Through lessons that are planned and taught well, teachers ensure that history is brought to life for the children in a way to make their learning interactive, immersive and memorable.