History

Our History curriculum aims to excite and enthuse children. There are many adults that can recall their days at primary school learning about Romans and Egyptians and for some these are some of the prominent memories from their early school days. However, at St Anne's we believe that History should not just be taught as a series of fun topics but in a way that helps them make sense of the world around them. In a recent OFSTED research report (July 2023) titled: 'Rich encounters with the past' it highlights the importance of the History Curriculum in being able to, 'help pupils to make sense of their own experiences, and of the world they inhabit'.

At St Anne's we have decided to utalise the Cornerstones History Curriculum materials to support our teaching of this important subject area. Our curriculum identifies key historical concepts, including hierarchy and power, civilisation, changes over time, chronology and significance, and ensures that they are explicitly taught and developed through the delivery of history and in line with the National Curriculum expectations for this subject area. 

We continually try and deliver a hands-on approach to our teaching and learning that involves children exploring artefacts as well as historical expert visits into school and class trips to areas of historical significance. The subject is taught discreetly within ’blocks’ during the course of the year. This ensures that the knowledge can become deeply imbedded and provides a more focused and immersive approach to the learning experience for children.

At the start and throughout each unit, children are assessed in their key historical knowledge, understanding and skills highlighted within our curriculum progression documents. There are opportunities for children to revisit previous learning to embed understanding before building new knowledge. As part of our assessment for learning process, children will receive verbal feedback as appropriate in order to aid progress in the subject.  Children are also encouraged to be critical of their own work, highlighting their own next steps. 

Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and British Values 

The study of History at St Anne's also enables children to consider and question aspects of morality that is a part of historical discussion. Children will establish a deeper understanding of how people’s lives have changed and developed over the centuries. Examining different cultures and how they have contributed in historical terms will also give children an awareness of our own multi-cultural identity

Within several of the units that we cover children are able to reflect on the idea of democracy and the Rule of Law for example discussion about how laws impact upon the rights of individuals is found in the study of the Anglo-Saxons; in particular King Alfred.  Mutual respect is one of the fundamental British values and this can be developed by reflecting on the tolerance of other’s beliefs and values particularly when groups of people come together. This is particularly so when covering areas related to invasion and settlement.