history

Through History, we aim to build an awareness of significant events and individuals in global, British and local history, understanding how things have changed over time and how this affects our lives of today. Studying History allows children to explore the reasons behind people’s actions throughout time, helping them understand different cultures, beliefs, and experiences. This understanding fosters empathy, as children learn to see the world from others’ perspectives. Additionally, learning about past successes and failures provides valuable lessons, enabling children to recognise the consequences of certain choices and avoid repeating mistakes in the future

History gives the children the opportunity to develop a range of skills in a really engaging way which makes them care for and recognise their own place in history. Children frequently engage very well with history topics and it gives great opportunities for drama, creative writing, music and art. It also gives children who perhaps struggle with the core subjects a way to really shine. Able, gifted and talented children are encouraged to dig deeper in secondary sources. We want children to be curious to know more and reflect on the past. History allows children at Harnham Junior School to flourish with lessons focusing on working as historians and developing historical skills and there are many opportunities for the curriculum to inspire the children like historical visits, visitors and events held in school. It is also crucial in developing children’s knowledge of their place in the world - what events have happened previously and how they have shaped the world they live in. The Salisbury locality is also a really great resource for opening their eyes to the rich and historical landscape in which they live.

At Harnham Junior School, we provide a rich, diverse History curriculum, ensuring local, national and global History is taught. It is thoughtfully designed using the Kapow scheme to provide engaging, well-sequenced, and age-appropriate lessons that meet the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum for Key Stage 2. This curriculum ensures progression in both historical knowledge and skills, enabling pupils to build a coherent chronological knowledge.

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to build on prior knowledge, ensuring all pupils, including those with SEND (who represent 23% of our school population), can access and make meaningful progress. For example, pupils develop foundational concepts such as chronology and cause and consequence early on, which supports their understanding of more complex historical narratives later in their learning journey. This approach also supports our school improvement priority of raising attainment across the curriculum by embedding key historical concepts alongside literacy and vocabulary development.

Pupils study a broad range of historical periods and themes, covering British history, alongside significant world civilizations. This ensures a balanced exploration of local, national, and global history.

Throughout our History units there is a strong focus on chronology to ensure children can make links to previous learning in both the unit they are studying and other areas of History. By the time the children reach Year 6, children will be able to have a ‘mental timeline’ they can refer to allowing them to identify connections, contrasts and trends over time.   

History is taught through enquiry-based learning where pupils are encouraged to ask questions and investigate the past using a variety of sources. Lessons focus on developing pupils’ understanding of key historical concepts:

·       Change and continuity

·       Cause and consequence

·       Historical significance

·       Historical interpretations

·       Sources of evidence

These concepts will be interwoven throughout our History curriculum; therefore the children will have varied opportunities to develop these skills to analyse the past and make judgements.

Outcomes of work are regularly monitored to ensure that they reflect a sound understanding of the key identified knowledge.

The impact of our History can be constantly monitored through formative and summative assessment. Throughout each lesson, teachers observe children at work, individually, in pairs, in a group and in class during whole class teaching to assess knowledge and understanding.

In addition, each unit has an assessment quiz which tracks pupil’s understanding and progression in line with our curriculum goals.  

By the end of Year 6, children should be able to:

·        Know and understand the history of Britain, how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain had influenced and be influenced by the wider world.

·       Develop an understanding of the history of the wider world, including ancient civilisations, empires, non- European societies and the achievements of mankind.

·       Develop a historically- grounded understanding of substantive concepts – power, invasion, settlement and migration, civilisation, religion, trade, achievements of mankind and society.

Form a historical argument based on cause and effect, consequence, continuity and change, similarity and difference.