History

Intent

At Fairways Primary School, we believe that high-quality history lessons inspire children to want to know more about the past and we encourage them to think and act as historians.  We aim to provide a stimulating and challenging environment where a passion for learning is nurtured through an engaging curriculum. 

We want children to be curious, to ask questions, to discover more about the world and local community around them and how events of the past have helped shape how they are today.  We plan for them to develop a deep knowledge and understanding of people, events and contexts from a range of historical periods, including significant events in Britain’s past.

Implementation

As well as good quality teaching, we incorporate experiences such as school trips, in-school visitors and history-themed days so children have further opportunities to develop understanding, enthusiasm for the subject and historical skills.  These skills include investigating and interpreting the past, understanding chronology, asking perceptive questions, weighing evidence (including sources) and communicating their learning in a variety of ways making use of historical language.  Our engaging curriculum includes high-quality texts so history topics are taught with plenty of scope for cross-curricular links to other subjects, most notably English, whilst ensuring the explicit teaching of historical skills.

We plan for progression of skills, knowledge and understanding from Early Years where children are taught under the banner of ‘Understanding the World’ making links to their own personal history, that of their family and the community in which they live.  This extends through Key Stage One where there is more emphasis on significant events and people, expanding their understanding of chronology beyond their own experience.  By Key Stage Two, children are building on prior knowledge, developing understanding of more complex historical terms, thinking more critically and understanding concepts such as change and causation.  They also develop the ability to evaluate and challenge their own and others’ views using historical evidence from a range of sources.  Formulating and refining questions and lines of enquiry contribute to debates, discussions and evaluations of the past.

Impact

History at Fairways is planned to ensure it meets the National Curriculum objectives over the course of a child’s time at the school and that it is accessible to all learners.  By the end of Key Stage Two, our aim is that children will not only leave with a good understanding of the academic content and chronological understanding of key events and people in British and world history but for them to have retained their enthusiasm and enjoyment of the subject.  We hope their curiosity about the world around them and how it has been shaped by past events will extend into their lives beyond Fairways.