History

Intent

At Waterfield Primary School we believe that history should form an integral part of the curriculum. We aim to inspire curiosity, encourage debate, pose and answer critical questions and allow children to develop a better understanding of the world in which they live. We want our children to be open minded, enquiring thinkers; history detectives who can examine the past in an engaging and exciting way, exploring how the past impacts the world we live in today and how identities and cultures are shaped within a social, political, cultural and economic background.

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Implementation

The Waterfield history curriculum is based on the National Curriculum. It sequentially builds on learning throughout the children’s school journey. Children explore key concepts that equip them with the skills and tools necessary to interpret, analyse and evaluate ideas about the past.

In EYFS, children learn about the past and the passage of time by investigating and exploring family trees and asking questions about family members.  They develop an interest in their own story as well as the stories in their family and explore the concepts of past, present and future.

In KS1 and KS2,children engage with a wide range  of history units which allow them to develop their understanding of the past and how this has impacted life in Britain and around the wider world today.  Throughout their time at Waterfield their learning will focus on key themes, allowing for easier comparison between time periods.

As well as improving subject knowledge, children develop the ability to think critically. They learn to consistently support, evaluate and challenge their own and others’ views using appropriate and historical evidence derived from a range of sources. As historians, children progressively apply the key concepts which are:

• To investigate and interpret the past
• To build an overview of world history
• To understand chronology
• To communicate historically

View our Progression Map for History.