HISTORY AT WYBOURN COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL

Intent

Our aim at Wybourn Community School is to encourage our pupils to develop an appreciation, understanding and a thirst for knowledge of the past. Our intention is to improve every pupil’s cultural and historical understanding of the world around them. In line with the National Curriculum, the curriculum at Wybourn aims to ensure that all pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s history and that of the wider world, which helps to stimulate pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. At Wybourn Community Priamry School we use Cornerstones Curriculum. Through Cornerstones, themes are carefully planned, informed by the National Curriculum and linked to previous learning.

Implementation

History at Wybourn develops children’s historical knowledge, skills and subject disciplines. Key aspects and concepts, such as chronology, cause and effect, similarity and difference, significance and hierarchy, are revisited throughout all our themes and are developed over time. All projects also develop historical skills based on evidence and historical enquiry. The choice of historical periods follows the guidance set out in the National Curriculum, with specific details relating to significant events and individuals chosen to present a rich and diverse account of British and world history. Learning will start by revisiting prior knowledge. This will be scaffolded to support children to recall previous learning and make connections. Staff will model explicitly the subject-specific vocabulary, knowledge and skills relevant to the learning to allow them to integrate new knowledge into larger concepts.

All our history projects are taught in the autumn and summer terms, with opportunities for year groups to revisit historical concepts in some of the spring term geography projects.

Key Stage 1

In Year 1, children begin the autumn term by studying the project Childhood. This project builds on children’s past experiences, including their family history and events within living memory. In the summer term, children study the project School Days. This project enables children to learn the history of Wybourn Community Primary School and compare schooling in the Victorian period.

In the autumn term of Year 2, children extend their studies to explore a broader range of periods in the project Movers and Shakers. This project explores the concept of significance and the significant people that have greatly influenced history. In the summer term, children study the project Magnificent Monarchs. This project introduces children to the challenging concepts of power and monarchy in preparation for more complex historical topics in Key Stage 2.

The projects studied in Key Stage 1 provide numerous opportunities for children to explore significant historical events, people and places in our locality.

Lower Key Stage 2

In Year 3, children begin the autumn term by studying the chronology of British history in the project Through the Ages. This project teaches children about the significance of prehistoric periods and the changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. In the summer term, children continue to develop their knowledge of the chronology of British history in the project Emperors and Empires. This project teaches children about the Roman Empire, its invasion of Britain and Britain’s ensuing Romanisation.

In Year 4, children resume their learning about British history in the project Invasion. This project teaches children about the Roman withdrawal and the invasion and settlement of the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings. This project concludes at 1066, which meets the guidance from the national curriculum for British history. In the summer term of Year 4, children begin their studies of ancient history by studying the overview project Ancient Civilisations. This project enables children to learn about the achievements of the earliest civilisations, including ancient Sumer, the Indus Valley civilisation and ancient Egypt.

Upper Key Stage 2

In the autumn term of Year 5, children continue to build their knowledge of ancient civilisations with an in-depth analysis of ancient China in the project Dynamic Dynasties. This project enables children to study the significance and influence of ancient China and its prowess and advancements in the written word, technology and metalwork. In the summer term, children further study ancient and world history in the project Groundbreaking Greeks. This project enables children to explore life in ancient Greece, including examining the achievements and influence of ancient Greece on the western world.

In the autumn term of Year 6, children study the more complex historical issues of enslavement, colonialism and power in the project Maafa. In this project, children explore a range of African kingdoms, including the Kingdom of Benin, and study Britain’s role in the development, perpetuation and abolition of the slave trade. In the summer term of Year 6, children complete their historical studies with the project Britain at War. This project enables children to study the role war has played in Britain’s history since 1066, focusing on the First and Second World Wars as crucial turning points in British history.

Impact

At Wybourn, pupil voice shows that students are confident and able to talk about what they have learnt in history using subject specific vocabulary. Pupil voice also demonstrates that they enjoy history and are able to recall their learning over time. Pupils’ work demonstrates that history is taught at an age appropriate standard across each year group with learning activities differentiated to meet the needs of individuals. Work is of good quality and demonstrates pupils are acquiring knowledge, skills and vocabulary in an appropriate sequence.

Visits & Visitors

Wherever possible we want children to have first-hand experiences of the projects they are studying. This could involve visits from the History Bus or Viking Days where Vikings visit our school and children get the opportunity to have hands on experiences of the Viking way of life whilst dressed as Vikings themselves. We also arrange trips to Manor Lodge to learn about Mary Queen of Scot’s significance to our local area as she was kept as a prisoner there. We can also visit the Victorian School and understand what life was really like for children in the 19^th Century.

What we teach in History