History

Intent

We aspire for the children of the Phoenix Federation to be the architects of a more equal, compassionate, and sustainable world. Our history curriculum is therefore designed to give our learners a sound knowledge of the growth of a diverse Britain, an appreciation of the struggles and accomplishments of figures often hidden from history and an understanding of how events of the past have shaped our present. By helping our children understand the moulding of the world they have inherited, we enable them to imagine the one they would like to help create.

Through the teaching of the National Curriculum Progamme of Study, themes of power, movement, struggle and change are explored in a range of historical contexts that deepen children’s chronological understanding, encourage critical thinking and foster a sense of belonging. We put the local history of Deptford, its people and their global connections, at the heart of our curriculum so that our children gain a rich appreciation of the evolution of their community, have a proud sense of belonging and learn to see themselves as agents of change.

Implementation

History is taught discretely in 3 half-termly units per year. Inter-subject connections are carefully planned to provide a more immersive learning experience wherever possible. Each unit and each lesson revisits key knowledge or misconceptions from past learning ensuring that all children can retain and build upon what they have learned in the past.

 The curriculum begins with the self and spirals outwards encompassing the local, national, and global communities of which our children are a part; the disciplinary skills are taught throughout in order that children gain a clear understanding of what it means to be a historian. Through engaging lessons involving the exploration of sources, meeting characters from the past and present, visits to museums and local sites of historical importance, children’s curiosity is piqued and their ability to make connections, ask challenging questions and interpret evidence flourishes.

Developing children’s skills of empathy and oracy are at the heart of each of our history units and so weekly lessons provide rich opportunities for using our imaginations, discussing different possibilities and perspectives, and presenting our learning to an audience.

The knowledge content of our curriculum is assessed through low stakes quizzes and a short written explanation that take place at the end of each unit and enable us to identify any misconceptions.

In addition to lessons, assemblies and whole school occasions commemorate the historical accomplishments and struggles most relevant to our local community.

Impact

The impact of our history curriculum is evident in the enthusiasm, curiosity, and confidence of our children as historians; the way in which they understand themselves as part of a process of history and feel empowered to affect the future.

By the time our children leave the federation we want them to:

• Be curious about the past and keen to interrogate different historical perspectives
• Understand how some events of the past have shaped the present
• Have a clear chronological understanding of the periods of history they have studied and the links between them
• Be able to describe the characteristic features of different periods and recognise their legacies
• Be able to interpret evidence and think critically about the value of a source
• Understand that many of the freedoms and rights we have today have involved struggle and conflict
• Feel empowered to use some of the lessons of the past to build an even brighter future.