History
The History Subject Leader is: Mr Tim Downes
tdownes@fitzwilliam.wakefield.sch.uk
History Statement of Intent
At Fitzwilliam Primary School it is our intent that the history element of our curriculum will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world and inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past.
As our pupils progress they will become equipped to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. We want 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.
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Subject Leader Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact Overview
Subject: History
Subject Leader: Tim Downes
Intent
Research link
Implementation
Impact
To build a curriculum which develops learning and results in the acquisition of knowledge in History.
To design a history curriculum with appropriate subject knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum History Programmes of study.
OFSTED Curriculum Research indicates that:
OFSTED research defines a ‘knowledge-rich’ approach as one in which curriculum leaders are clear on the “invaluable knowledge they want their pupils to know”. (September 2018)
Enhancement - Education Endowment Fund research indicates that given the complex nature, and limited evidence of impact on attainment of enrichment activities, it is important to think carefully about what you are intending to achieve. It is also important to consider carefully whether such activities should replace curriculum-linked activities, as this might have a negative impact on attainment.
School: questionnaires (parents and pupils) indicate that children positively engage in enhancement tasks. Pupils’ written work indicates that clearly planned enhancement activities provide a scaffold for language consolidation.
- Curriculum - The History National Curriculum and EYFS is planned for and covered in full within the EYFS, KS1 and KS2 school curriculum. Whilst the EYFS and National Curriculum forms the foundation of our curriculum, we make sure that children learn additional skills, knowledge and understanding and enhance our curriculum as and when necessary.
- Language - The promotion of a language rich History curriculum is essential to the successful acquisition of knowledge and understanding in history. The promotion and use of an accurate and rich historical vocabulary throughout school is planned in history.
- 2 Year Cycle - Our curriculum is taught on a two year cycle (Year A and Year B) and within phases (Early Years, Year 1/2, Year 3/4 and Year 5/6.)
- Themes are taught over a term, starting with a launch activity day that ‘hook’ children’s interest. At least one of these hooks will be linked to history. After the initial ‘hook’, children will then be immersed within this theme for the remainder of the term; on occasions children may well be asked to research historical aspects of the theme independently. This allows the children to have ownership over their curriculum and lead their own learning in history.
- Basic skills -English, Maths and ICT skills are taught during discrete lessons but are revisited in history so children can apply and embed the skills they have learnt in a purposeful context.
- Enhancement - We plan that each theme has a visit, visitor and involvement in the community activity to provide first-hand experiences for the children to support and develop their learning. This is often linked to history (please see Curriculum Enhancement). We recognise that to have impact the planned enhancements must be clearly linked to the statutory historical knowledge to be acquired and provide the opportunity for children to better understand the knowledge or apply what they already know.
All children who are not SEND will reach age related expectations in history by the end of Year 6, so that children can reach and exceed their potential in History.
As historians children will learn lessons from history to influence the decisions they make in their lives in the future.
