National Curriculum Programme of Study
Intent
In St Norbert’s History is planned out progressively to cover the skills and concepts required in the National Curriculum. This aims to develop historical skills and concepts which are transferable to whatever period of history is being studied and will equip children for future learning. These key historical skills and concepts, which are revisited throughout different themes, are: Historical Interpretations; Historical Investigations; Chronological Understanding; Knowledge and Understanding of Events, People and Changes in the Past; Presenting, Organising and Communicating.
The coverage of recent history in KS1 enables children to acquire an understanding of time, events and people in their memory and their parents’ and grandparents’ memories. For KS1, themes allow a full opportunity for children to really grasp the difficult concept of the passing of time.
The intent in lower KS2 is that children can work on a variety of areas of History to develop and apply the skills listed above through a range of ancient, British and more recent History
Upper KS2 continues and builds upon this with a wider selection of ancient history such as ‘Early Mayan Civilisations’ and ‘Stone Age’ through to more modern history such as ‘World War I’ and ‘Leisure and Entertainment’. The repeat of these themes allows for children to truly develop and embed a sense of time and how civilisations were interconnected. Children start to understand how some historical events occurred concurrently in different locations, e.g. Ancient Egypt and the Stone Age.
Implementation
In order for children to know more and remember more in each area of History studied, there will be a structure to the sessions whereby prior learning is always considered and opportunities for revision of facts and historical understanding are built into the learning. This allows for revision to become part of good practice and ultimately helps build a depth to children’s historical understanding. Through revisiting and consolidating skills, History sessions will enable children to build on prior knowledge alongside introducing new skills and challenge. Revision and introduction of key vocabulary is also built into each session. This vocabulary is then included in Knowledge Organsiers and displays to ensure that children are allowed opportunities to repeat and revise this knowledge.
Here at St Norbert’s we intend to inspire pupils and practitioners to develop a love of history and see how it has shaped the world they live in.
Impact
History displays in each class will directly improve the impact of History across the school. At St Norbert’s History displays will be more consistent with historical technical vocabulary displayed enabling it to be spoken and used by all learners. Regularly shared Historical themed days/months and highlights in the School Newsletter will raise the profile and interest in the subject of History throughout the school and it’s wider community. Here at St Norbert’s we want to ensure a love of History by teachers and pupils across school, therefore encouraging them to want to continue building on this wealth of historical knowledge and understanding, now and in the future. Impact can also be measured through key questioning skills built into sessions, child-led assessment through LBQ (Learning by Questions) and quizzes throughout sessions.
