History Overview 2023-24
| Intent |
|---|
| At Hillside Primary School, our curriculum works from an enquiry-based approach to Historical understanding and interpretation of the wider world. We recognise that each child has their own starting point upon entry to every year group and progress is measured in line with these starting points to ensure every child can celebrate success in their History learning. History at Hillside Primary is taught during 3, 3-week whole-school blocked subject units, covering areas of learning within British Timeline, Ancient Civilisations, Pre and Post 1066, Significant People/s and a Local Study. The aim of teaching such a broad and balanced range of subjects within History is to ensure coverage of the National Curriculum, and to also stimulate and promote children’s interest and understanding about people who lived in the past. We teach children a sense of chronology from EYFS to Year 6, and through this they have space and understanding of their own identities, along with a cultural understanding based on historical heritage. The children learn to value their own and other people’s cultures in modern multicultural Britain, and compare this to how people lived in the past. We teach children how to enquire critically and objectively, which allows them to understand how events in the past have influenced our lives today. Enquiry, analysis, investigation, interpretation and problem-solving skills are at the forefront of our curriculum objectives. |
| Implementation |
|---|
| History at Hillside is taught following the 2014 National Curriculum. At Hillside we have a stimulating and well-organised History curriculum that provides many opportunities for enquiry-based learning, applying substantive and disciplinary knowledge to make sense of the wider world around us, and promoting an understanding of how our History learning ties in to previous years’ learning. We use a wide range of resources to do so, such as school trips to local Historical sites and landmarks, History-themed days, and quality Historical texts and sources to motivate and inspire our children. We ensure that cross-curricular links and vocabulary are woven into the Hillside Primary History Curriculum using displays, school trips, home learning opportunities, technology and History themed days. We have comprehensive, regularly updated, working documents for the History curriculum documenting coverage, progression of skills, progression of vocabulary, enquiry questions and objectives, and substantive and disciplinary knowledge. Teachers each have access to these documents via the Public drive, which they share with their support staff. Class timetables, planning and examples of children’s work are scrutinised by the subject leader, who also carries out lesson observations and monitors progress. Professional development meetings are held regularly to ensure consistency of implementation and assessment. The ‘secure fit’ assessment of children’s History knowledge and skill ensures our judgements are honest and based on evidence. From these we plan for progress in areas needing more input. |
| Impact |
|---|
| The lack of pre-school experiences and disruptions to education for those already at school in recent years have proved challenging. – At least 69% of children in every year group achieved at Expected Standard in History last year, rising from 66% the previous year. – Immersive Historical experiences and opportunities are promoted and implemented where possible in every year group to ensure the children’s engagement and enjoyment. – Pupils really enjoy History at Hillside Primary and there is effective and consistent coverage/progress across the school. (See Pupil’s Voice Questionnaire) We hope that, as children move onto secondary education, their creativity, passion for History, and their high aspirations travel with them. |