What do we want children to learn?

At Ashbury CE Primary School, in order for children to understand how history shapes their future in our ever-changing world, we will equip children with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to make connections between the past and present. We will develop children as historians, through high-quality history lessons, enabling children to: develop critical thinking skills; persevere through historical enquiry; understand how to research and gather information; assess the reliability, perspective and authenticity of a source; and understand chronology and patterns through history. We strive to inspire children to explore different periods of time as well as cultures, in order for children to gain a sense of their own identity, and become responsible and compassionate citizens, within a world of differing social, political, cultural and economic backgrounds. 

How do we teach History?

History is taught through the CUSP Curriculum and is planned in carefully sequenced units of work, so that students commit learning to long-term memory and to enable the achievement of a greater depth of knowledge. Our teaching units build upon the learning and skill development of previous years and previous units. 

To achieve our aims, lessons are planned to ensure children are challenged and motivated, enhancing their love of learning. Children are provided with the best resources possible, enabling staff to make lessons practical, engaging and active. We provide constant support for our children and, through this engagement, all children are able to achieve and reach their goals with confidence. Teachers model and instruct on the key skills and share key knowledge for each lesson, then allowing children time to practise, investigate and develop independently, while offering support where needed. 

Teachers foster a love of learning in history and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in history. At Ashbury CE Primary School, History is taught once a week for three terms of the school year. We follow the National Curriculum. Units of work have been carefully mapped across a two-year rolling programme. Every lesson focusses on a learning question in order to engage and spark curiosity which demands children to use a range of historical enquiry, knowledge and skills to answer. Children will learn, understand and apply subject specific vocabulary. We also plan for the effective use of educational visits and visitors, to enrich and enhance pupils' learning experience and the history curriculum.  To support children in their ability to know more and remember more, children are encouraged and prompted to use knowledge and skills learnt from previous history topics and lessons. Knowledge notes will be used in every lesson to help support attention and interaction.

On leaving Ashbury with Compton Beauchamp CofE Primary School, children will:

Progress will be shown through children demonstrating a chronological understanding of the past and how the past links with our modern world. Pupils will be able to understand big ideas, connecting and using the world around them, such as migration or overcoming adversity. Children are continually assessed throughout the year to ensure they are on track to reach the Age Expected Standard or better by the end of the academic year. These assessments include recalling knowledge as a starter and low-stakes testing such as quizzes.  We regularly monitor children's needs to ensure the necessary support for pupils is put in place. Teachers will monitor how children are progressing throughout history units and ensure children are developing relevant skills and knowledge to reach the key milestones at the end of EYFS, KS1 and KS2. 

History Curriculum Overview