History – Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent  

At North Petherton Community Primary School we use Kapow’s scheme of work for History.  

The scheme of work aims to: 

• Allow children to understand how Historians study the past, construct accounts and use the skills to carry out their historical enquiry.  

• Inspire pupils to be curious and creative thinkers who develop a complex knowledge of local and national history and the history of the wider world.  

• Develop confidence in thinking critically, ask questions, and be able to explain and analyse historical evidence. 

•  Build an awareness of significant events and individuals in global, British and local history and recognize how things have changed over time.  

• Appreciate the complexity of people’s lives, the diversity of societies and the relationships between different groups.  

• 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.  

•  Build their understanding of chronology in each year group, making connections over periods of time and developing a chronologically secure knowledge of History. 

Implementation  

Teachers create a positive attitude to History learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children can achieve high standards in History. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of History involves the following:  

• History is taught in year groups using clear and comprehensive plans in line with the National Curriculum. Children within EYFS will develop an awareness of History through the Understanding the world strand.   

• The strands below are interwoven through all History topics from Year One onwards.  

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. 

• History compliments the skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Some of the texts that we use in our English lessons are historical in nature.  

• Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and where possible be given the opportunity to use their skills to discover the answers.  

• Teachers use precise questioning in class to test knowledge and skills and assess children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning, so that all children keep up.  

• We use ICT to aid the teaching of History where appropriate.   

• Educational visits and visitors into the classroom are investigated by teachers prior to starting a unit of work and use of the outdoor environment is encouraged to support the children’s learning.  

• Teachers meet to reflect on the impact of the teaching of history across the school and reflect on its impact on learning.  

Impact  

• Children have a love and passion for History and can identify clear links with the work undertaken in class and the real world.  

• We aim for children to achieve at least age-related expectations in their History subject knowledge and skills at the end of the year.  

• Children can ask questions to investigate. 

• Children can answer questions they have investigated.  

• Children confidently work collaboratively and practically to investigate.  

• Children are well-prepared for the next stage of their educational journey.