History Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent

At St Mary’s we aim to inspire children to want to know more about the past and to think like historians. Through planned topics, children have opportunities to build a chronologically secure understanding of British history, as well as that of the wider world. In History, we aim to ensure that pupils gain a historically grounded understanding of abstract terms such as ‘empire’ and ‘civilisation’. We aim for children to understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance. During lessons, children will understand and apply the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used, to support their learning. Children will also show that they can support, evaluate and challenge their own and others’ views using a range of sources. Children will be able to communicate their ideas confidently in a multitude of ways.

Implementation:

St Mary’s History curriculum is high quality, promotes challenge for all children and is reflective of a broad and balanced curriculum. Our long term plan is well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. At the start of each term, topic webs are shared with children and parents, showing vocabulary which children must master.

At St Mary’s, we aim to equip the children with the skills they need to become independent learners and thinkers. Key questions, which underpin each lessons enable children to, think critically, and debate evidence and develop perspective and judgement of historical events. To facilitate this, our pupils are given the opportunity to investigate photographs, documents, factual accounts, and artefacts so they can understand how we interpret the past in different ways.

Revision of key concepts and knowledge are revised regularly through low stake quizzes, so that teachers are able to assess pupils’ understanding.  

Visits to historical sites and museums, as well as school visits are helping our children to gain further knowledge and understanding of what the past was like.

Impact

During pupils interviews children will talk confidently about the skills and knowledge they have acquired. Children will be engaged in History lessons and be keen to share their learning with others. Children will apply what they have learnt in history to their lives today, especially through local history studies.

Work will show that a range of topics is being covered, cross-curricular links are made where possible, and a wide variety of skills are being taught.

Assessments and monitoring will show standards in History will be high and will match standards in other subject areas, in particular English.