History

We introduced a new and exciting History Curriculum in September 2023. The themes, concepts, substantive knowledge and historical skills have been mapped to ensure that children follow a clear, progressive sequence of learning. They have lots of opportunities to make progress in history, through activities that enable them to learn, revisit and recall historical content. Our curriculum fully aligns with the National Curriculum requirements and enables children to develop the intent of our Levendale Goals. We enhance learning through visits and trips, exploration of artefacts and making our history curriculum fun!

Healthy and Safe	Children learn about historical events and their impact on communities, considering health and safety elements of both individuals and groups of people. Children compare and contrast this to the present day.
Positive Mindset	Pupils learn about changes throughout history and understand how change is a key part of life. Children are encouraged to develop confidence by being resilient, critical thinkers and enquirers. Children learn about historic examples of recreation.
Respect	Children respectfully participate in discussions regarding history, with everyone’s opinion being listened to. Children explore what our local area and beyond can offer with regard to others feelings and the impact of behaviour and attitudes. Opportunities to research people from historic periods enable children to develop an understanding of similarities and differences.
Independence	Children learn a wide range of skills through gaining historical knowledge. Children are given opportunities to say what they think and develop independence through exploration of ideas, resources and concepts.
Pupil Voice	Children learn about the rights of children and adults throughout history. Children can express own opinions respectfully through a variety of activities that enable them to present their ideas and own work.
Aspirational	Pupils use a variety of sources and artefacts to increase their understanding of how people’s lives have shaped our nation and how Britain has influenced the wider world.

Curriculum Aims

• Know and understand the history of the UK as a coherent, chronological narrative from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped the nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world.
• Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires; characteristic features of past non-European societies; achievements and follies of mankind.
• Gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of vocabulary and terms, such as ‘empire’, ‘civilisation’, ‘parliament’ and ‘peasantry’.
• Understand historical concepts such: as continuity and change; cause and consequence; similarity and difference; and significance.
• To make connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends, frame historically valid questions and create their own structured accounts, including written narratives and analyses.
• Understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims, and discern how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed.
• Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections between local, regional, national and international history; between cultural, economic, military, political, religious and social history; and between short- and long-term timescales.

Themes Explored

• Society and Community
• Exploration and Invasion
• Power
• Conflict and Disaster

Disciplinary Concepts

• Chronology
• Evidence and Interpretation
• Cause and Consequence
• Change and Continuity
• Similarity and Difference
• Historical Significance