History | Mottram C of E Primary School

Mottram Primary School Curriculum is delivered through engaging and exciting topics which we ensure cover the breadth and depth of the skills and knowledge from the National Curriculum. Using our Progression Document, we have designed our curriculum with fresh and exciting topics to specifically meet the needs of our children.

Intent

At Mottram C of E Primary School, we believe that History fires children’s inquisitiveness about the past and the wider world. History helps children to develop transferrable skills they can use across the curriculum and in later life, such as asking perceptive questions and thinking critically. Here at Mottram, we intend to–

Stimulate the children’s interest and curiosity about the past.
Foster interest and enjoyment in learning with the use of artefacts, practical activities, and field trips.
Enable children to gain knowledge and understanding about historical periods.
Enable children to gain knowledge and understanding about significant events in the past and the lives of significant people.
Foster an appreciation of how things have changed over time.
Develop a sense of chronology.
Develop an understanding of the similarities and differences in the lives and ways of people in the past and how it compares to their own.
Help children understand society and their place within it so that they develop a sense of their own identity.

Implementation

EYFS

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS) supports children’s understanding of History through the planning and teaching of “Understanding the World”. Children will be encouraged to comment on images of familiar situations from the past and compare and contrast characters from stories, including historical figures. Through conversation and daily routines, the children will be exposed to language relating to time such as “yesterday”, “old”, “past”, “now” and “then”.

KS1 and KS2

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in History, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school, which is inspired by our Progression Document. History is taught as part of a topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum and our Progression Document. Each year group has six allocated topics which are taught over the year, some with a History focus which will be taught through weekly topic lessons or a block of lessons.

Through these topics, all children are given the opportunity to learn more about key historical figures and events and discover their impact on the course of History.

When teaching History, the teachers follow the children’s interests to ensure their learning is engaging, broad and balanced. They will encourage children to think critically and will involve a variety of teaching approaches such as use of investigations, role play, examining artefacts etc.

Impact

By the time children leave our school they will:

Become increasingly critical and analytical within their thinking. Making informed and balanced judgements based on their knowledge of the past.
Become increasingly aware of how historical events have shaped the world that they currently live in.
Have a further understanding of History in their locality and around the world.
Develop enquiry skills to pursue their own interests within a topic and further questioning.
Where applicable, have encountered or participated in high-quality visits/visitors to further appreciate the impact of History.
Retain prior-learning and make connections between what they have previously learned and what they are currently learning.

Assessments are gathered through observations, pupil voice and work in books.

Pupil Voice

“There were only a few things on telly back then.” (Reception)

“Buses in the old days didn’t have any roofs on them.” (Year 2)

“The World Wide Web had been invented by Tim Berners -Lee.” (Year 3)

Why do we study history? – “So, we can cherish things from the past.” (Year 4)

“We learn lessons for the future.” (Year 6)

“Learning about Florence Nightingale inspires us to be a nurse.” (Year 4)

“History boosts your curiosity.” (Year 5)