Weyford Nursery and Primary Academy

Curriculum Statement – History

Intent

Our history curriculum is designed to instil a love of History in our children. We want our pupils to gain a knowledge of historical facts alongside the skills needed to be an analytical and critical thinker. Our programme of study is broadly based upon The National Curriculum, but enhanced to ensure our coverage is relevant to our school and the surrounding area. We are keen to make links with local history and topics which will inspire and interest our learners. We aim to provide an interesting and varied curriculum that interests and intrigues our children while meeting the needs of all backgrounds, cultures and abilities. From EYFS up to the end of KS2, the children will be taught about various historical events, where they take place within a historical timeline and famous historical figures, some of which have shaped the world today. We will, where possible, link History to other subject areas. We will monitor progress regularly through learning walks, lesson visits, book scrutiny and pupil voice.

Implementation

We will regularly monitor our provision, and adjust and make improvements as needed. We will ensure that our Long term planning and front sheets/knowledge organisers are used effectively to plan a progressive set of lessons designed to give children the best experience of the topic as possible. Where appropriate we use historical artefacts, visitors, workshops and visits to excite and intrigue our children to find out more about events and people from the past. We aim to give our children as much understanding as possible about what is was like to be around at a particular period in history by having practical and experiential lessons where possible. Teachers will make regular reference to previous learning to ensure that it remains of interest, this might be done through a class story or role play area linked to topic previously studied. Each class will display a timeline showing the topics that the children have studied, this will be informally enhanced throughout the year with dates of interest as and when they occur.

Impact

Through the high quality first teaching of History taking place, we will see the impact of the subject in different ways. Through pupil voice children will be able to talk about the skills and knowledge they have acquired. Children will be engaged in History lessons and want to find out more. Children will complete research independently through projects and homework and to further their own enjoyment about the subject or topic. The school environment will be history rich through displays, resources, vocabulary etc.

As historians, children will learn lessons from history to influence the decisions they make in their lives in the future. Assessments and monitoring will show standards in History will be high and will match standards in other subject areas. 

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Remembrance Assembly 2022

Weyford took great pride in remembering men and women who have served in the armed forces to protect others. 

We listened to readings from each year group, laid wreaths and listened in silence as we watched The Last Post being played over Portsdown Hill. It was a moving service and everyone payed their respects beautifully. 

We will remember them. 

Remembrance Assembly 11th November 2021

Weyford took time to pay respects and commemorate the sacrifice of Service Men and Women this week. The whole school attended a special assembly and made and laid wreaths. We listened to The Last Post in silence and respected a 2 minutes silence. 

Lest We Forget.

History is taught through a range of exciting topics from the Great Fire of London in Key Stage 1 to the Roman's and King's and Queen's in Key Stage 2.

We think about the chronology of historical events, placing them on a world timeline as well as United Kingdom's own timeline when applicable. We also learn about change and continuity over time, for example children have played with toys throughout the ages, but how are toys different now to those of the past? Children learn about historical figures over time such as Samuel Pepys and more recent figures (Tim Peake).

Children get to experience learning history in a variety of ways from investigating real historical artefacts, to going on school trips to historical places and museums, for example, the Novium in Chichester.

Year Two

Year two have been investigating the Great Fire of London and made some very realistic models of the homes in London in the 1600's. They found out why the fire happened, where it started and how homes were built differently afterwards.

They then burnt their beautiful creations and saw for their own eyes why the Great Fire took hold and spread so quickly too. 

VE Day 2020

We celebrated VE Day in style this year - at home, but certainly an occasion to remember. We spent time with our families sharing food and celebrating in a new and socially distant way.

Some of our Weyford families shared memories of loved ones who lived through the Second World War, and shared their stories with us below. 

Remembrance Day 11th November 2020

We were able to share our remembrance assembly with the school via the wonders of the internet! Each year group had prepared moving readings to share with the school and wreaths were placed at our Cenetaph. 

All the staff were so very proud of the way that our students conducted themselves throughout the assembly. Children from every year group took part, from nursery to year 6, and each showed great respect and an understanding of the need to remember this very important occasion.