History

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Exploring the past, understanding the present and shaping the future

At Bosley St Mary's CE Primary School, we believe that understanding the past helps children make sense of the world around them and their place within it. Our history curriculum inspires curiosity about people, places and events, encouraging children to ask questions, explore evidence and discover how societies have changed over time.

Through studying local, British and world history, children develop an understanding of the diversity of human experiences, the achievements of past civilisations and the events that have shaped our lives today.

Our ambition is to develop knowledgeable, curious and thoughtful young historians who appreciate that history is not simply a collection of facts, but an ongoing process of enquiry, interpretation and discovery.

How We Teach History

Our history curriculum develops children's historical knowledge alongside the essential skills of historical enquiry.

We place particular emphasis on:

• Chronological understanding: Developing a secure understanding of when events happened, how periods of history relate to one another and how societies have changed over time.
• Historical knowledge: Building knowledge of significant people, events, civilisations and developments in British and world history.
• Historical enquiry: Asking questions, examining evidence and using historical sources to investigate and understand the past.
• Historical interpretation: Recognising that accounts of the past can differ and learning to consider the reliability and perspectives of historical sources.
• Cause, consequence and change: Exploring why events happened, their impact and the similarities and differences between historical periods.
• Historical vocabulary: Developing the language needed to describe, explain and discuss historical ideas accurately.

Through explicit teaching, discussion, investigation and carefully selected sources, children build their knowledge and develop increasingly sophisticated historical thinking.

Our Curriculum Approach

At Bosley St Mary's, we have developed a carefully sequenced, two-year rolling history curriculum based on Oak National Academy's curriculum resources.

We have chosen Oak because of its evidence-informed, knowledge-rich approach, developed through the expertise of curriculum specialists and educational research. Its carefully structured curriculum supports progression in historical knowledge, understanding, vocabulary and enquiry.

We have thoughtfully selected and adapted the curriculum to reflect the needs of our children, our mixed-age classes and our unique setting, whilst ensuring coverage of the National Curriculum.

Our approach combines Oak's curriculum design with opportunities to explore local history, investigate historical evidence and make meaningful connections between the past and children's own lives.

Thinking Like a Historian

We encourage children to recognise that historians investigate the past by asking questions, examining evidence and considering different interpretations.

Children learn to:

• Ask thoughtful questions about people, events and periods of history.
• Explore primary and secondary sources, including photographs, artefacts, written accounts and historical records.
• Consider how reliable and useful different sources may be.
• Identify similarities, differences, changes and continuities over time.
• Explain the causes and consequences of significant historical events.
• Develop reasoned conclusions supported by historical evidence.

As children progress through school, they become increasingly confident in using their knowledge to make connections, explain historical developments and understand different perspectives.

History Beyond the Classroom

Our rural setting and local community provide valuable opportunities to explore the history of Bosley and the surrounding area.

We aim to bring history to life through the use of artefacts, historical sources, educational visits and opportunities to investigate places of historical interest.

Children are encouraged to recognise the connections between local history and wider national and global events, developing an appreciation of how the past has shaped the communities and world in which they live.

History for Every Learner

We believe that every child should have the opportunity to explore, understand and enjoy history.

Through clear explanations, visual resources, explicit vocabulary teaching, appropriate scaffolding and carefully planned challenges, we ensure that children can access an ambitious history curriculum.

Regular retrieval, questioning and discussion help children secure important knowledge, address misconceptions and develop a deeper understanding of historical concepts.

We encourage children to approach the past with curiosity, empathy and an open mind, recognising that understanding different experiences and perspectives helps us become thoughtful and responsible members of society.

Our ambition is for every child to leave Bosley with a secure understanding of the past, the ability to think critically about historical evidence and an appreciation of how history helps us understand ourselves, others and the world around us.