History

At Whittingham we believe that high-quality history lessons inspire children to want to know more about the past and to think and act as historians. The history curriculum provides children with a coherent, chronological knowledge of the history of Britain and the wider world, through the framework of three vertical concepts providing our children with: 

• Quest for knowledge - How do people understand the world around them? What is believed; what is known; what scientific and technological developments are made at the time? How is knowledge stored and shared?
• Power, empire and democracy - Who holds power, and what does this mean for different people in the civilisations? How is power wielded and legitimised? How are people’s rights different in different historical contexts?
• Community and family - What is life like for people in different societies? How are these societies structured? How are family and community relationships different in different historical contexts?

We intend to embed core disciplinary knowledge, and the ability to approach challenging, historically-valid enquiry questions

Our curriculum is designed in a way which creates excitement for history, inspires a curiosity to learn more about the past and provides opportunities to see themselves reflected in the curriculum.

Teachers plan with the three vertical concepts in mind and understanding the end point. As part of this planning process, teachers plan the following:  

• A knowledge organiser which outlines knowledge (including vocabulary) all children must master
• A sequence of learning which follows the Rosenshine Principles of Instruction
• A cycle of lessons for each subject, which carefully plans for progression and depth
• Low stakes quizzes which are used regularly to support learners’ ability to retrieve and recall knowledge and increase space in the working memory
• Challenge questions for pupils to apply their learning in a philosophical/open manner  
• Trips and visits from experts who will enhance the learning experience

Our History Curriculum is high quality, well sequenced and planned to demonstrate progression. We believe that if children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. This is done through:

• Formative assessment within lessons
• Low stakes quizzes
• Pupil’s books
• Pupil discussions about their learning

We enhance our curriculum by organising history workshops and providing opportunities such as school trips to enrich pupil’s understanding and provide context through first-hand experiences. 

BBC History for Kids

History for Kids

Historical Association