“The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are to deal with the future.”

                                                                                  Theodore Roosevelt

History at Swimbridge

Intention:

At Swimbridge CE Primary School, our History curriculum is ambitiously designed to cultivate a vibrant love of learning, inspiring curiosity and appreciation for the past among our children. With a focus on fostering a robust sense of chronology, we aim to empower children to recognize key trends in historical and human development, linking significant events to their lives today. By emphasising historical coherence, our curriculum seeks to deepen children's understanding of how historical events interconnect, illustrating how human behaviour and activities have been shaped by the values of their time. This approach encourages students to reflect on the consequences of their actions, fostering a sense of responsibility.

Our curriculum recognizes the multifaceted nature of history, prompting children to understand different historical perspectives. This critical awareness enables them to evaluate sources independently, arriving at their own conclusions and developing a nuanced understanding of the past. Engaging our pupils, the curriculum stimulates interest in the world, nurturing inquisitive, independent thinkers and active historians. We celebrate the voice of the child, creating an environment where students feel empowered to express their thoughts. Through this, we aim to instil the confidence to utilise and build upon their cultural capital, learning, and experiences both inside and outside the classroom. Ultimately, our History curriculum promotes a lifelong enthusiasm for learning, preparing children to navigate the complexities of the future.

Implementation

Children are provided with high-quality teaching and learning experiences to engage a love of learning within the children. Each child as they progress through the school will cover the National Curriculum in its entirety. Our two-year rolling programme will be rigorously monitored and evaluated in order to ensure high standards are achieved. We will further develop the range and quality of resources available to all children to enrich and support their learning in history. The use of external experts and resources, including trips and visitors coming into school, will be an important part of the learning programme. This will enhance the children’s enjoyment and therefore engagement in history.

Engage

During our Engage Stage, you should see children:

• Taking an active part in memorable first-hand experiences

• Beginning to read and research about their new theme using a range of materials

• Asking their own enquiry questions

• Talking about and exploring new ideas

• Developing oracy skills in different situations and with a range of people

• Taking part in sensory activities

• Identifying possibilities for future learning

Develop

During our Develop Stage, you should see children:

• Delving deeper into a theme

• Developing an understanding of new concepts and skills

• Acquiring new knowledge 

• Practising and mastering new skills

• Making links between subjects across the curriculum

• Re-visiting previously learnt skills

• Composing, exploring, making, doing, building and investigating

• Using transferable skills in different subjects and contexts

• Reading and writing for different purposes and audiences

• Finding answers to their own questions and those asked by others

• Following pathways of enquiry based on their own interests

• Explaining and describing their learning and understanding

Innovate:

During our Innovate Stage, you should see children:

• Applying skills, knowledge and understanding to real-life and imaginary contexts

• Showing enterprise in solving problems and resolving situations

• Using their thinking skills to explore possibilities

• Building their self-esteem and confidence 

• Reflecting upon identifying their own needs, skills and understanding 

• Working in pairs, groups, as a whole class and independently

• Taking on different roles and responsibilities

Express:

During our Express Stage, you should see children:

• Performing, presenting and becoming the experts

• Evaluating finished products, processes and progress

• Linking what they have learned to starting points or initial observations

• Reflecting on their own learning 

• Sharing their achievements with parents, classmates, the community and beyond

• Celebrating their achievements

      “History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversities of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.”

National Curriculum, 2014