“A high-quality history education will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. Teaching should equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.”    The National Curriculum

At Deanesfield, our history curriculum aims to excite children and inspire them to develop their own skills as young historians. Our teaching of history will help pupils gain a secure knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past as well as that of the wider world and local area. The curriculum is structured in a way that allows for children to make links between current and previous learning, to develop their understanding of different periods in time. History lessons aim to provide children with the substantive knowledge that they need to be able to understand the past, a range of disciplinary skills (such as weighing evidence and thinking critically) whilst instilling a love and interest for the subject. We want to foster children’s curiosity about the past alongside promoting historical skills to help pupils to remember more.

It is important that children continue to develop a sense of identity through history learning and we endeavour to ensure that children are given the opportunity to learn how events and individuals in the past have shaped their lives today. This begins within the foundation key stage, where children explore the past through their environment, family history and stories, allowing them to build the foundations of understanding the past and chronology. This progresses further throughout Key Stage 1 and 2, where overarching learning questions allow children to relate the past not only to Modern Britain but also to their own lives today. In understanding different ages, events and significant individuals throughout history, our pupils will have a greater appreciation of today’s world and their place within it.

Enthusiasm for history is promoted through engaging opportunities, like school visits or workshops, to help nurture the children’s interests and deepen their understanding of the past through first-hand experiences. Learning is achieved through a variety of tasks so that all pupils can access the subject.

Here at Deanesfield, we recognise the important role of history in preparing our pupils with the vital skills they will need in their later learning journey and life. We hope that through learning about the past, children can understand how to become a responsible citizen, be understanding of different societies and cultures, have a strong sense of identity and have the confidence to ask questions and think critically.