Shaw-cum-Donnington C.E. Primary

At Shaw-cum-Donnington the intention of the History curriculum is to provide the children with knowledge and skills to be historians.  We make use of the immediate and wider local area, to enable children to develop a deep understanding of the rich history in their locality.  History topics are informed by the national curriculum and the schools’ locality. We aim to provide the children with a broad and balanced view of the History of Britain and the wider world. In this, students will develop a well-rounded knowledge of the past and its events, with the intention to improve every child’s cultural capital, understanding of the world around them and their own heritage.

We aim to ensure that all pupils:

• Gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world which helps to stimulate pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past.
• Are encouraged to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement.
• Begin to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.

History is taught in blocks throughout the year, linked to overall whole school themes so that children can achieve depth in their learning.  Teachers identify the key knowledge and skills for each topic and consideration has been given to ensure progression each year across the school, on a two-year cycle due to mixed age classes. At the beginning of each theme, children are able to convey what they know already and what they would like to find out. Children are encouraged to explore and ask questions. 

Consideration is given to every child’s personal starting point and how every pupil can develop their own knowledge, skills and understanding.  Cross curricular links are made as much as possible, particularly with literacy.  Where suitable, we use resources within the local area to enable children to develop an understanding of the history in their locality. The school’s own context as well as the immediate local area is considered, with opportunities for visits to places of historical interest.  We assess on a termly basis in order to build a rounded picture of each child as an historian, using practical opportunities, quizzes, discussions and presentations. By the end of Year 6, children will have a chronological understanding of British history from the Stone Age to the present day. 

At Shaw-cum-Donnington we want to ensure that children are equipped with historical skills and knowledge that will provide them with a range of transferable skills which they can apply to other subjects and contexts as they move to their next stage of education and future life.  Children will become increasingly critical and analytical within their thinking, making informed and balanced judgements based on their knowledge of the past.  They will develop enquiry skills to pursue their own interests within a topic and further questioning.  They will become increasingly aware of how historical events have shaped the world they live in.