History
History - Statement of Intent
‘The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.’ Theodore Roosevelt
At All Cannings, our ambition is that all children are historians. Our learning in history makes a difference by stimulating curiosity about the past and an awareness of how the events of history impact upon the present. Children leave All Cannings with an understanding of the chronology of British history and that of the wider world. Through exciting and challenging topics, we provide interesting historical experiences that promote historical thinking, and an ability to become analytical thinkers by evaluating a wide range of primary and secondary sources. We encourage children to ask questions, weigh evidence, evaluate historical bias, and scrutinise arguments, in order to make their judgement of historical periods and events.
History 2023-24
Implementation
Beginning in the Early Years, children learn to become curious about their own family history, and how life has changed since their parents and grandparents were children. Throughout Key Stage One and Two, the history curriculum has been carefully planned to ensure progression in knowledge and historical skills, with topics taught discreetly on a termly basis, ensuring that children understand chronology and gain historical perspective by making connections between the topics they have studied. Meaningful cross curricular links are made with other subjects to strengthen connections and understanding for pupils while exploring historical contexts. We particularly maximise cross curricular links within our English curriculum which allows children to research, explore and implement historical vocabulary. Living as we do in an area with a wealth of ancient monuments and buildings, children become immersed and excited by our local heritage through educational site visits to places such as Avebury, Devizes museum and Salisbury Cathedral, and by inviting archaeologists into All Cannings School.
As historians, our children develop:-
- A passion for history and an enthusiastic engagement in learning, developing their sense of curiosity about the past, and the impact it has on the present.
- A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of people and events from a range of historical periods, and the study of significant historical figures.
- The ability to think critically about history and communicate ideas effectively.
- The ability to support, evaluate and challenge their own and others’ views using appropriate historical evidence derived from a range of sources.
- The ability to think, reflect, debate, discuss and evaluate the past, formulating and refining questions and lines of enquiry.
- An understanding of how and why people interpret the past in different ways.
- A critical approach to historical evidence and the ability to make robust and critical use of it to support their explanations and judgements.
- the ability to relish challenging activities, including opportunities to undertake high quality research across a range of history topics.
We achieve all of the above by providing a rich and diverse curriculum, underpinned by our school’s Christian values of Wisdom, Generosity, Kiononia, Compassion, Peace and Joy and linked by our ‘golden threads’. This enables every member of the school community to recognise and show that learning makes a difference.
Impact
Through studying history at All Cannings School, every child will have gained a greater cultural and historical understanding of the world around them, including their own history and heritage. Our children demonstrate a sound understanding of human attitudes and experiences, and they are able to make links between historical events and the world in which they now live. The study of history at our school teaches children to distinguish between fact and opinion; view circumstances in a wider context; seek valid evidence and corroborating viewpoints; consider underlying assumptions, alternative explanations, and unintended consequences. When leaving us in Year Six, our pupils are equipped not only with the minimum statutory requirements of the History National Curriculum, but are well prepared for the challenges and opportunities they will encounter throughout their academic careers, and in later life.
Progression of Skills in History
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