History

In the EYFS, pupils will:

• Develop an awareness of change over time.

• Begin to talk about the past and present.

• Ask questions about change.

• Learn about significant individuals and their contributions to society.

This learning will take place during discrete Understanding the World input sessions, through continuous provision and through special events throughout the year.

In Key Stage One, pupils will:

• Build on their awareness of chronology by learning about events within living memory and events beyond living memory in their own locality (such as the moon landing of 1969, the Great Fire of London and a study of how transport has changed over time in Streatham).

• Develop their ability to ask and answer questions by exploring historical sources and artefacts.

In Key Stage Two, pupils will:

• Develop a more secure understanding of chronology (covering the time period from the Stone Age to World War 2).

• Ask more sophisticated historical enquiry questions.

• Select and organise relevant sources and information to construct their own informed responses to historical enquiry.

The KS3 History Curriculum aims to equip students with the historical skills necessary to fully interrogate the past.  Through an exploration of thematic units and a chronological journey from 11th century Norman England to 20th century multicultural Britain, students will develop a deeper contextual comprehension of the past, as well as a conceptual awareness focusing on the core historical skills of:

• Cause and Consequence

• Analysis

• Interpretation

• Evaluation

• Significance

The aims and objectives of the KS4 History curriculum are to enable students to: 

● Develop and extend their knowledge and understanding of specified key events, periods and societies in local, British, and wider world history; and of the wide diversity of human experience. 

● Engage in historical enquiry to develop as independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers. 

● Develop the ability to ask relevant questions about the past, to investigate issues critically and to make valid historical claims by using a range of sources in their historical context.

● Develop an awareness of why people, events and developments have been accorded historical significance and how and why different interpretations have been constructed about them. 

● Organise and communicate their historical knowledge and understanding in different ways and reach substantiated conclusions.

The KS5 curriculum has been designed to help students understand the significance of historical events, the role of individuals in history and the nature of change over time.  The two year course will assist students to gain a deeper understanding of the past through political, social, economic and cultural perspectives.  In addition, the A Level curriculum encourages students to:

• Develop their interest in, and enthusiasm for, history and an understanding of its intrinsic value and significance

• Acquire an understanding of different identities within society and an appreciation of aspects such as social, cultural, religious and ethnic diversity, as appropriate

• Build on their understanding of the past through experiencing a broad and balanced course of study

• Improve as effective and independent students and as critical and reflective thinkers with curious and enquiring minds

• Develop the ability to ask relevant and significant questions about the past and to research them

• Acquire an understanding of the nature of historical study, for example that history is concerned with judgements based on available evidence and that historical judgements are provisional

• Develop their use and understanding of historical terms, concepts and skills

• Make links and draw comparisons within and/or across different periods and aspects of the past

• Organise and communicate their historical knowledge and understanding in different ways, arguing a case and reaching substantiated judgements.