History

Intent

At Brampton Primary School, we follow the Early Year Foundation Stage Framework and the History National Curriculum.  We believe that high quality history lessons inspire children to become curious and creative thinkers who develop a complex knowledge of local and national history and the history of the wider world.  We want pupils to develop the confidence to think critically, ask questions, and be able to explain and analyse historical evidence. We aim to build an awareness of significant events and individuals in global, British and local history and recognise how things have changed over time.  History will support children to appreciate the complexity of people’s lives, the diversity of societies and the relationships between different groups. Studying History allows children to appreciate the many reasons why people may behave in the way they do, supporting children to develop empathy for others while providing an opportunity to learn from mankind’s past mistakes. Our pupils will build their understanding of chronology in each year group, making connections over periods of time and developing a chronologically-secure knowledge of History.

We will develop pupils’ understanding of how historians study the past and construct accounts and the skills to carry out their own historical enquiries. 

Implementation

History at Brampton Primary School is delivered using the Kapow scheme of work which emphasises the importance of knowledge, shaped by disciplinary approaches and substantive concepts.  Due to mixed-age classes, History is taught on a two-year rolling programme.  Previous skills and knowledge are returned to and built upon to ensure the progression of skills.

Children develop their understanding of the following key disciplinary concepts:

• Change and continuity
• Cause and consequence
• Similarities and differences
• Historical significance
• Historical interpretations
• Sources of evidence

Substantive concepts such as power, trade, invasion and settlement are introduced in Key stage 1, clearly identified in Lower key stage 2 and revisited in Upper key stage 2 ensuring progression of skills to analyse the past and make judgements.  Trips and visiting experts bring the concept of history alive for our children and enhance the learning experience.

Impact

At Brampton Primary School, we ensure that our History curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned using Kapow to demonstrate progression.  Pupils at Brampton Primary School will leave as enquiring learners who ask questions and make suggestions about where to find the evidence to answer questions.  They will be critical and analytical thinkers who are able to make informed and balanced judgements based on their knowledge of the past. 

Children will:

• Know and understand the history of Britain, how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world.
• Develop an understanding of the history of the wider world, including ancient civilisations, empires, non-European societies and the achievements of mankind.
• Develop a historically-grounded understanding of substantive concepts - power, invasion, settlement and migration, civilisation, religion, trade, achievements of mankind and society.
• Form historical arguments based on cause and effect, consequence, continuity and change, similarity and differences.
• Have an appreciation for significant individuals, inventions and events that impact our world both in history and from the present day.
• Understand how historians learn about the past and construct accounts.
• Ask historically-valid questions through an enquiry-based approach to learning to create structured accounts.
• Explain how and why interpretations of the past have been constructed using evidence.