Intent

Our history curriculum aims to stimulate the children’s curiosity about the past in order for them to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding. Through the study of history, we aim to ignite children’s curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world. Through learning about how and why the world, our country, culture and local community have developed over time, children understand how the past influences the present.  History enables children to develop a context for their growing sense of identity and a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people. What they learn through history can influence their decisions about personal choices, attitudes and values. We provide the children with opportunities to become immersed in historical contexts in order for them to experience the world as young historians.

Implementation

By linking learning to a range of topics, children have the opportunity to question, investigate, evaluate and build an understanding of the world we live in. We will help our children to become young historians by developing the following characteristics of learning: 

• Building on what they already know, planning for key instant recall facts and sparking interest with immersion activities. 

• Offering the opportunity to explore knowledge and understanding from a range of time periods, including significant events and changes through Britain’s past. 

• Developing their ability to think critically about history by study of characteristics, location (where), evidence, significance and timeline (CWEST).   

• Learning to become critical thinkers and evaluate our past by handling artefacts and exploring sources of evidence. 

• Learning to develop their own identities and embrace the communities around them by studying social changes through time (black lives matter and British values).

• Exploring their understanding of historical events and how it has an impact on society in the modern world. 

Our delivery of the history curriculum is supported by enrichment opportunities including visitors and school trips.

Impact

Our children will leave Our Lady of Lourdes with a deepening curiosity and understanding of historical events and people that have shaped the world we live in today. Their conceptual understanding will develop to make links between learning and the ability to ask reflective historical questions. Our journey ensures that children have embedded the skills to become reflective, knowledgeable and articulate historians.

Furthermore, the children will be empowered to seek answers through evidence-based research and become agents of change through their evolving sense of responsibility to learn from the past.