at Blenheim Primary School

History Curriculum Statement
At Blenheim Primary School we offer all children a high quality history education which provides them with a coherent knowledge of the history of Britain and the wider world, whilst also inspiring their curiosity about the past. Children experience excellent teaching which enables them to ask perceptive questions, think critically, explore evidence, examine arguments, and develop perspective and judgement about people and events from the past. (National Curriculum in England, History programme of study, 2014) At Blenheim we aim for pupils to feel inspired, engaged and immersed in their learning. We strive to encourage children to feel passionate about history and have a thirst for knowledge of investigating the past. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers encourage pupils to aspire to become historians and understand that in order for society to grow and evolve, we need to learn from the impact of events in the past. 

Intent

The history curriculum at Blenheim is carefully planned and structured to ensure that current learning is linked to previous learning and that the school’s approaches are informed by current pedagogy. Topics are informed by the national curriculum and are sensitive to children’s interests, as well as the context of the local area.

In line with the national curriculum, our curriculum aims 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, evaluate 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.

Implementation

History is taught in blocks throughout the year, so that children achieve depth in their learning. The key knowledge and skills that children acquire and develop throughout each block have been mapped to ensure progression between year groups throughout the school. At the beginning of each new history topic, teachers refer to timelines to develop children’s understanding of chronology. Each topic is introduced with reference to the chronology of previous topics (including those from previous years). By the end of year 6, children will have a chronological understanding of British history from the Stone Age to the present day. Interlinked with this are studies of world history, such as the ancient civilisations of Greece and the Egyptians. Pupils are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods and their own lives. 

Impact

By the time children leave Blenheim Primary School they will have developed the historical skills to have a coherent knowledge of the history of Britain and wider world. They will ask perceptive question, think critically, explore evidence, examine arguments and develop perspective judgements about people and events from the past. As a result of a progressive, well-sequenced and purposeful history curriculum, the children of Blenheim Primary School leave school as highly skilled historians with a coherent knowledge and understanding of the past. They use higher order thinking to critically analyse sources and information and make judgements both on the successes and follies of mankind. They understand how civilisations, leaders and historical periods shaped the world we live in today. Children have the knowledge, skills and concepts needed to be successful in future learning and employment. All children gain the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. Due to high levels of teacher subject knowledge, quality first teaching and cross curricular topics, children make excellent progress in learning. Children remember in the long term the content they have been taught and can integrate new knowledge into larger concepts.

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 A set of key historical concepts that we call our golden threads that children will repeatedly revisit throughout their time at Blenheim from EYFS upwards. Our golden threads are: 

Invasion, Migration and Settlement

Trade and Technological Development

Society and Legacy

Conflict

Empires, Rulers and Power

Democracy

By having topics which encompass these concepts, pupils are able to make links between their learning from one topic and year group to another, as well as use this knowledge to make connections with the present day and their own lives.   We want the children to be able to think about these concepts over a long-time span.

These golden threads are woven through the history curriculum so that pupils encounter them in multiple novel contexts on their journey towards a deep and meaningful understanding.

To find out more about our History Curriculum please click here: History_Progression_Map