History

At The John Wesley School CEM Primary School (JWS), we shape our history curriculum to ensure it is fully inclusive to every child. Our aims are to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for History; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum that encompasses the British Values throughout; ensuring the progressive development of historical concepts, knowledge and skills; and for the children to study life in the past.

 Intent

At JWS, we aim for a high quality history curriculum which should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Our teaching equips pupils with knowledge about the history of Britain and how it has influenced and been influenced by the wider world; know and understand about significant aspects of the history of the wider world like ancient civilisations and empires; changes in living memory and beyond living memory; learn about the lives of significant people of the past; understand the methods of historical enquiry and be able to ask and answer questions. We want children to enjoy and love learning about history by gaining this knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork and educational visits.

 Implementation

In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in history, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. History is taught as part of our Connected Curriculum, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. At JWS, we ensure that history has the same importance given to it as the core subjects, as we feel this is important in enabling all children to gain ‘real-life’ experiences. For example, using the local area to look at how buildings have changed in Key Stage 1, to comparing the similarities and differences in environments and communities in Lower Key Stage 2, through to looking at an in-depth study of the locality in Upper Key Stage 2.

 Impact

The impact and measure of this is to ensure that children at JWS are equipped with historical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world.

We want the children to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about history, therefore encouraging them to undertake new life experiences now and in the future.

 Useful links for home:

Key Stage 1 History BBC Bitesize - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zkqmhyc

Key Stage 2 History BBC Bitesize - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zcw76sg

Natural History Museum - https://www.nhm.ac.uk/

History for Kids - https://www.historyforkids.net/

BBC Horrible Histories - https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/shows/horrible-histories

National Geographic Kids - https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/

History Homework Help - https://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/history/index.html