Vision for History at Archbishop Benson C of E Primary School
‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13)
‘With fun and learning, hand in hand, all things are possible.’
At Archbishop Benson we strive to bring history to life, providing the children with rich, hands on opportunities in and out of the classroom environment. Therefore, igniting a passion for history and an enthusiasm and engagement in their learning. We believe that all children are historians and have the ability to think critically and communicate ideas confidently. This reflects our school Christian ethos and values.
Throughout the year groups, we aim to equip all children with excellent knowledge and understanding of people, events and contexts from a range of historical periods, learning historical concepts and processes along the way. Pupils begin their journey, learning about the lives of significant individuals from the past and begin to develop a sense of curiosity about the past and their understanding of how and why people interpret the past in different ways. This provides them with the foundations for asking enquiring questions, holding discussions and debates in more depth as they progress throughout the years and the ability to reflect and evaluate the past.
As the children progress throughout the school, they are equipped with knowledge about the history of Britain and how it has influenced, and been influenced, by the wider world. Pupils will develop an understanding about significant aspects of the history of the ancient civilisations and empires in addition to changes in living memory and beyond living memory. By teaching these significant events in British history in a chronological order, and by sharing out wider-world history between the year groups, children are able to consistently support, evaluate, compare and challenge their own and others views using details, appropriate and accurate information derived from a range of sources.
We seek to:
- deliver the aims and content of the National Curriculum: investigating and interpreting the past, understanding chronology, building an overview of world history, communicating historically through a clear progression in skills.
- plan and structure lessons to be inclusive so that all children can acquire and apply core skills and develop a sense of curiosity and knowledge of history in Britain and the wider world
- deliver a hands-on curriculum, which gives all children access to different experiences, concepts and big ideas in each area, and creates an atmosphere of ‘I can do it’ in the classroom
- motivate and involve children in their learning by sharing thoughts, questions, research and information, often leading to discussion and debates
- lead children into discovering independently, and making them aware of the cross-curricular connections, for example, the Arts
- create a classroom atmosphere where children have opportunities to talk animatedly about the history they are learning, using specific vocabulary with accuracy and evidence to support their ideas
- provide resources and displays in classrooms that support the children’s learning, and which they can use confidently and independently
- keep up to date as teachers and share good practice