Intent

The intent of our History curriculum is to deliver a curriculum that is accessible to all, offering opportunities for discovery and enquiry. We want pupils to develop the confidence to think critically, ask questions, and be able to explain and analyse historical evidence. Through our scheme of work, we aim to build an awareness of significant events and individuals in global, British and local history and recognise how things have changed over time. History will support children to appreciate the complexity of people’s lives, the diversity of societies and the relationships between different groups. Studying History allows children to appreciate the many reasons why people may behave in the way they do. Beech Hill's History curriculum aims to build and understanding of chronology, making connections over periods of time and developing a chronologically-secure knowledge of History. We hope to develop pupils’ understanding of how historians study the past and construct accounts and the skills to carry out their own historical enquiries. In order to prepare pupils for their future learning in History, our scheme aims to introduce them to key substantive concepts including power, empire, civilisation, monarchy, settlement and invasion. 

History at Beech Hill gives children the opportunity to access a wide range of resources and enables children to develop a deep understanding of the rich history of our local area. We fulfil the national curriculum requirements for History providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum that encompasses the British Values throughout; ensuring the progressive development of historical concepts, knowledge and skills; and for the children to study life in the past.

Implementation

At Beech Hill, History units are organised around an enquiry-based question and children develop their understanding of the following key disciplinary concepts; Cause and Consequence, Similarities and Difference and Significance, Change and Continuity, Evidence, Chronology of British and World History, Connections across time, place and people and Interpretations. 

In EYFS we focus upon changes within living memory and embedding the understanding of past and present. Topics are chosen depending on children's interests.  We use objects, images, stories, books and songs. Children use words to describe the past such as now/then/before/after, sort images into past and present and sequence them on simple timelines from oldest to newest. 

In KS1 children are introduced to the idea of sources and historical evidence. Topics are taught with cross-curricular links to immerse children in their learning and ensure knowledge and skills are embedded. Children focus on topics that teach them about changes within living memory, significant events beyond living memory, significant individuals and local history. We focus on what our school and local area was like 100 years ago. KS1 children begin to learn through disciplinary concepets and begin to understand the new Historical terms such as monarchy and power. 

In KS2 History is taught in a two year rolling programme due to mixed age classes and ensuring a broad and balanced curriculum. 

LKS2 focus on building a good understanding of the earliest humans and what life was like and how society and beliefs changed over time, from the very beginning. We study an overview of the earliest civilisations and also the stone age through to iron age. We look at agriculture and understand that it meant humans could settle for the first time. We study the Roman empire and it's impact on Britain, the Maya, Ancient Egypt and Explorers and Empire. All of these topics support children's understanding of our golden threads, building upon ideas of power, empire, civilisation, monarchy, settlement and invasion. We build on KS1 understanding of our local area and use evidence such as maps and census data to explore a street in Beech Hill and the wider local area. 

UPKS2 look at early Britain through studying the Anglo Saxons and Vikings. We consider the impact upon how our modern society was created and how it developed over time, relating this to how early civilisations developed and changes that happened. We revisit power and  also invasion. We introduce democracy and government whilst studying Ancient Greece. We also consider their religious views and making comparisons between the religions of other civilisations. We study the Tudors to develop our historical knowledge beyond 1066 and visit Ordsall Hall. We study medicine throughout History and the impact this has on our lives today. We also continue to build upon our local history knowledge when learning about coal mining in Wigan, and re-visit the street from our LKS2 local history topic. 

Impact

The impact of History in Beech Hill will be measured by; the number of children achieving age related outcomes, children's understanding of our Golden Threads, the knowledge children demonstrate about historical events and people and the impact these have had, the historical skills children demonstrate in their learning, the children’s engagement and enthusiasm in history activities.