History

Welcome to our History curriculum page where you will find a range of information about History at Endeavour Academy.  Our subject leader for History is Mr Johnson

 

INTENT

As budding Historians, our children will have gained a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. They will know and understand history as a chronological narrative from the earliest times to present day, understand how different people have shaped our nation and how influences from the wider world have changed the way we live. They will also be able to 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. Our teaching will equip our children with the knowledge and skills to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. Through studying History, our children will recognise changes in different societies and the relationships between different groups.  They will begin to understand the complexity of people’s lives and their challenges over time. 

 

The characteristics of an Endeavour Historian

• An excellent knowledge and understanding of people, events, and contexts from a range of historical periods and of historical concepts and processes.
• The ability to think critically about history and communicate ideas very confidently in styles appropriate to a range of audiences.
• The ability to consistently support, evaluate and challenge their own and others’ views using detailed, appropriate and accurate historical evidence derived from a range of sources.
• The ability to think, reflect, debate, discuss and evaluate the past, formulating and refining questions and lines of enquiry. 
• A passion for history and an enthusiastic engagement in learning, which develops their sense of curiosity about the past and their understanding of how and why people interpret the past in different ways. 
• A respect for historical evidence and the ability to make robust and critical use of it to support their explanations and judgments.
• A desire to embrace challenging activities, including opportunities to undertake high-quality research across a range of history topics.

 

IMPLEMENTATION

History is taught through a topic focus in a cross-curricular way with enquiry at the heart of all History learning.  At Endeavour, we follow the National Curriculum for History.  We have developed our bespoke curriculum and schemes of work drawing on support from the accredited and reputable Historical Association. Our whole school overview of learning can be viewed below and is used by staff to reinforce, build upon and make links between prior learning in turn supporting pupils to know more and remember more on their journey through school. Experiential learning such as visits to places of historical significance and museums or talks and workshops from representatives of different historical groups and societies are also used to further enhance learning and to create a shared starting point on which to build further knowledge.

History Overview

Teaching and learning in History is organised around school identified key concepts that we refer to as ‘big ideas’.  These big ideas enable us to focus our attention on the most meaningful content which for History we have identified as:

• Chronology
• Communication
• Interpretation
• Concepts
• Enquiry

Knowledge, skills and understanding in History is developed around these same ideas and is built progressively year on year.  Our school progression documents illustrate how this is mapped out across school.

History Progression

At Endeavour Academy, we are committed to using opportunities within History to educate our pupils to be the best versions of themselves in order to become valuable and fully rounded members of society. Our History curriculum is designed to encompass meaningful SMSC (spiritual, moral, social and cultural) development and promote British Values through a variety of engaging learning experiences.

We also take part in many days identified within the calendar as being significant such as Remembrance Day, Bonfire Night & VE Day. These are marked with whole school events and in class activities. You can read more about our integrated approach to personal development through History below:

SMSC History

 

IMPACT

The History subject leader, supported by the Headteacher and Senior Leaders, takes responsibility for ensuring children are progressing as expected in History.  They regularly monitor planning and children’s work to evaluate curriculum delivery and standards. Teachers complete History assessments termly and this data is used by the History leader to inform curriculum developments.  Pupils are also regularly asked to reflect on their learning.  Some examples of this can be seen below.

• Timelines help me learn. We have them in our classroom and they help me remember dates and years to use in my History work.’ (Y4 pupil)
• The timelines help me as they help me organise the dates and know what happened before and after or even at the same time.’ (Y5 pupil)
• The Fire of London started because the oven was left on in a bakery and so it burned and all the houses were made of wood then so it spread and got everywhere but there were no fire engines like there are today. That’s why we have them today. (Y2 pupil).
• I like History because we learn all about where we live and what it was like in the past. (Y2 pupil).  
• I liked writing a message to the English Heritage as it meant I could show what I learned about how castles have changed over time. (Y4 pupil).
• I like looking at artefacts –I love being a Historian and asking lots of questions about them. They tell us so much about all different times.  (Y6 pupil).
• I like it when we join up learning like looking at the atlases and comparing how England was separated then and comparing it to now. (Y6 pupil).
• Chronology is about putting things into order from the start to the end. It has to be in order to show how it’s changed. (Y3 pupil).
• I liked writing about the legacies and seeing the impact of the Anglo-Saxons. It was interesting to think how life in Britain might have been different if they hadn’t invaded. They left us so much!  (Y5 pupil).
• History helps us to see mistakes made by others so we can learn from them and don’t do the same thing.’ (Y6 pupil)

 

ASPIRATIONS

As part of our commitment to raising aspirations for all pupils we want to develop an understanding in our pupils of how learning History can be useful to them in their everyday lives (see pupil voice above) or in their future careers.  Here are some jobs pupils can aspire to as Historians:

• Palaeontologist
• Researcher
• Archaeologist
• Museum Curator
• Archivist
• Tour Guide
• Solicitor

More ideas can be found at https://www.firstcareers.co.uk/

 

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD WITH HISTORY

• Often there will be History events at school and lots of exciting activities for you to try at home or get to grips with. We as teachers love parents and grandparents who are prepared to come in and help develop our knowledge of a topic or even to learn more about our local history. We love it when grandparents/parents come and talk about for example, life before the internet (yes, this does now count as history!), the moon landings, or rationing.
• Another way to help is to visit museums, historic houses and talk about the topics that they are doing. The children who love history are often the ones who have seen a love of the past in their parents. There are many free museums, especially in the bigger cities. Use them as a resource and spend quality time sharing the past together. Otherwise, watch age-appropriate history programmes on TV.
• The BBC website (though no longer being updated) has loads of links to videos, games and information a range of historical periods
• Try Teaching History with 100 Objects for some great artefacts to discuss with your child linked to their history topic
• Finally, if all else fails, embrace the Horrible Histories approach and go for the gross! Knowing about toilet etiquette in Roman times, that the Ancient Greek men did sports naked, or that the Ancient Egyptians used to hook the brains of dead people out through their nose before mummification will be enough to liven up any conversation about history!

You can also nurture your child’s passion for History through their love of reading.  There are some fantastic children’s books based in the past. Whilst these are often fiction, there will be facts and figures in the books that children will remember. Some good examples include:

• The Roman Mysteries
• Goodnight Mr Tom
• The Pebble in my Pocket
• So You Think You’ve Got It Bad – A Kid’s Life in Ancient Greece
• Great Women Who Made History
• Poppy Fields By Michael Morpurgo
• Letters from the Lighthouse
• Stay Where You Are and Then Leave
• Grandad Mandela
• Egyptomania
• Ug

This is only a small selection. Have a look on this website https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk for lots more books linking to the topic that your child is studying. There are loads to enjoy & share at home.