History

Intent

At Hawkesley Church Primary Academy, we aim to deliver a History curriculum (through the Primary Knowledge Curriculum) that is both knowledge-rich and coherently sequenced, inspiring and engaging all pupils while fostering a deep understanding of the past and its relevance to the present and future. Our intent is to:

• Develop substantive and disciplinary historical knowledge: We provide pupils with a comprehensive understanding of significant historical events, dates, and prominent figures, as well as substantive concepts such as ‘empire’, ‘monarchy’, and ‘civil war’. We also emphasise disciplinary concepts like evidence, causation, significance, and interpretation. These are explicitly taught during history lessons and referenced in the children’s work.
• Establish a chronological framework: The curriculum is designed to allow children to build a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of local, British, world, black and women’s history. Each unit is integrated into the broader narrative of history, using chronology to widen the children’s understanding while also reinforcing connections and contextual understanding.
• Facilitate understanding of causation: Units of study are carefully sequenced to  help pupils comprehend the causes of significant national and global events by ensuring they have background knowledge of prior events. For example, understanding World War I necessitates knowledge of the origins and growth of European empires, including the British Empire.
• Promote a sense of identity and belonging: Our curriculum equips pupils with the skills to recognise the importance of history in shaping personal and national identities, fostering pride in their heritage while promoting awareness of diverse historical narratives. Additional local history units have also been planned in to support the children’s understanding of their own locality.
• Encourage a lifelong love of learning: We cultivate curiosity and engagement in pupils, nurturing their natural interest in historical events while instilling a passion for exploration through various sources, including primary documents, artefacts, and digital resources.

Implementation

To achieve our intent, we implement a well-structured, engaging, and inclusive History curriculum that adheres to the National Curriculum, while also planning in additional units to widen the children’s understanding of world history, and supplementing additional local history units which help to develop the children’s understanding of where they come from. Our History curriculum allows for flexibility to meet the diverse needs of our pupils. Key aspects of our implementation include:

• Coherent curriculum progression: Our history curriculum is uniquely sequenced to build upon prior knowledge systematically, enabling pupils to connect various historical periods and themes. Each unit is not viewed as a stand-alone topic but as a chapter in the overarching narrative of history. Assessment for Learning is integrated throughout every unit of learning to allow staff to assess the needs of their students. Scaffolding is also used to support children in ‘letting their light shine’.
• Interleaving of substantive and disciplinary concepts: We ensure that knowledge of substantive and disciplinary concepts are interleaved across the curriculum, allowing pupils to encounter and apply these concepts in various contexts. From year to year, unit to unit, and lesson to lesson, pupils build upon prior substantive and disciplinary knowledge.
• Diverse and rich resources: A variety of resources, including historical texts, multimedia, community stories, and virtual museum tours, enrich learning experiences. We also incorporate visits to local historical sites, museum loans boxes and guest speakers to reinforce real-world connections.
• High-quality CPD for staff: Continuous Professional Development ensures teachers are well-equipped to deliver engaging History lessons effectively, focusing on effective questioning techniques, the use of chronology and historical resources, and strategies for scaffolding to meet the needs of all learners.
• Assessment for learning: We implement formative assessment tools to monitor pupil progress continuously. End-of-unit assessments and reflective tasks provide insights that guide instruction to support individual learning needs and ensure mastery of content.

Impact

The impact of our History curriculum is evidenced through various strands, demonstrating that our pupils excel academically and develop an enthusiasm for learning about the past. Key indicators of impact include:

• Pupil engagement and enjoyment: Regular feedback and pupil voice surveys indicate that students take a keen interest in History, expressing excitement when discussing historical events and figures, and eagerly participating in discussions and projects.
• Critical thinking and speaking skills: Pupils demonstrate confidence in articulating thoughts and arguments, analysing different perspectives, and substantiating their claims with historical evidence, particularly when discussing substantive concepts like monarchy and its evolution in Britain.
• Enhanced cultural understanding: Our curriculum reinforces the understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives throughout history, helping pupils develop empathy and appreciation for various narratives, particularly in relation to key topics like the British monarchy.
• Transition readiness: Pupils leave our primary school with a strong foundation in historical knowledge and skills, preparing them for the demands of secondary education, where they continue to build upon their historical understanding and analytical skills.
• School Values: Our school values are fully embedded throughout our History curriculum:
  • Love: Developing the skills of empathy through learning important women’s, black, world and local voices and stories from the past.
  • Integrity: Empasis on scrutinizing sources and discussing bias. Discussion of the motivations behind people’s actions in the past (e.g. British Empire and the slave trade).
  • Greatness: Discussing historical significance, and what makes an historical figure or event significant.
  • Honesty: Having open and honest discussions around the past, while also reflecting on our own misconceptions.
  • Trust: Teaching the stories of historically significant people and events where trust and working together played an important role.
• Historical Association Recognized Curriculum: At Hawkesley Church Primary Academy we are pleased to offer a History curriculum which has been recognized by the Historical Association and has been given the Silver Quality Mark.

In summary, at Hawkesley Church Primary Academy, our History curriculum is committed to offering a high-quality, enriching experience that not only meets the expectations of the National Curriculum but also inspires pupils to become informed and responsible citizens.