History

History is about real people and real events from the past. History is concerned with sequence, time and chronology and is the study of evidence about the past; it gives us a sense of identity, set within our social, political, cultural and economic relationships. History fires the children’s curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world: it plays an essential part in preparing us for living and working in the world today.

What they learn can influence pupils’ decisions about personal choices, attitudes and values. In History, children find evidence, weigh it up and reach their own conclusions. To do this they need to be able to research, sift through evidence, and argue for their point of view – skills that are all prized in adult life.

At Linton-on-Ouse Primary School and Nursery, pupils will have the opportunity to:

• Develop a secure understanding of chronology and their place in it.

• Learn about the impact and achievements of Britain and other civilisations.

• Ask questions about the past and investigate these using a range of primary and secondary sources.

• Handle and use sources in the form of artefacts, photographs and written evidence.

• Make comparisons and explain why changes occur.

• Experience History brought to life in the form of living history days, workshops and visits to museums.

• Construct hypotheses and arguments about people and events from the past by looking closely at evidence.

• Challenge stereotypes by studying a rich and diverse range of individuals and cultures from the past.

History lessons are carefully planned through our themes, so that valuable links can be made across other subjects. A two year, long term rolling programme maps out the coverage of the discrete teaching and learning opportunities for children to develop and embed specific skills. This ensures coverage of the National Curriculum, for History across Key Stage 1 and 2 and works within and beyond the Early Years’ Framework across our Foundation Stage.

Within each unit of History teaching, class teachers carefully plan the specific outcomes for their year group, based upon age appropriate knowledge and skills, as well as the needs of the cohort or individuals within it. There is a strong focus on developing vocabulary of our children and retention of this. Questioning is used to check children's understanding and prior knowledge, before new concepts, skills or knowledge are introduced.

Modelling is used by class teachers to clarify expectations, children are then given plentiful opportunities to consolidate, build upon and apply basic skills and knowledge, across a series of lessons, as well as across the year. 

In History, the key skills taught are:

• place events in a chronological framework and develop a coherent understanding of chronology

• use primary and secondary sources to find evidence about people and events

• understand and explain the impact historical events have had on our locality and on the wider world

• understand the achievements of significant people and cultures from the past

• make comparisons about people and societies from the past

• communicate findings written and orally

Additional opportunities for learning are taken through cross-curricular links and trips such as to the Jorvik Viking Centre, The National Railway Museum, and in our local community.

Impact is measured by assessing against the Essentials Curriculum milestones statements through ‘Insight pupil tracking’ as:

·       Above

·       Below

·       Just Below

·       On Track

·       Greater Depth

At Linton-On-Ouse Primary School we strive for children to: 

·      become historians 

·      understand the modern day in connection to the past

·      understand the past and how they can learn from it

·      investigate other cultures, times, and people

·      communicate historically

Our curriculum, along with various trips, workshops and visitors, will impact our children by enabling them to make outstanding progress throughout their time at Linton-On-Ouse Primary School and Nursery and they will leave us with at least age-related expectations for history. We will have developed enthusiastic historians and our children will understand how history has changed our lives and how we can learn from it. This will all be evidenced through pupil voice, work in their books and through the children’s love of historical learning.

All subjects are monitored and kept up to date by a specified subject leader. Each term, reports are created to share with school staff and governors, showing the children's progression and key development points for that subject area. 

Parents are informed of their child's progress through parent-teacher meetings and written reports. Teachers will request to meet with parents should any concerns arise, aiming for the best possible outcome for the child. 

Among many other possible careers!