Hillyfield Primary Academy

History informs pupils' views of the world they live in and develops them into active members of their local and global communities. Our pupils should leave each lesson, units of study, school year and key stage with a curiosity and passion of how the past has shaped the world they live in today. Pupils will develop a well-rounded knowledge of the past and its events, with the intention to improve every pupils’ cultural capital, understanding of the world around them and their own heritage.

Knowledge skills, National Curriculum objectives and key vocabulary are clearly set out in the history progression plan as well as year group medium term plans. Opportunities for enrichment of the subject and intentions to improve pupils’ cultural capital are evident through:

• visitors and parental involvement,
• education visits,
• wider reading,
• cross curricular links,
• first hand experiences etc.

which are explicitly planned for. Our progressive curriculum is crucial for all learners in all key stages, with careful consideration given to vulnerable pupil groups and our pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Diversity and inclusion is embedded throughout the pupil's learning so they have the opportunity to understand multiple perspectives of local and global events and issues through enquiry questions such as, “How should we remember the British Empire today?"

Pupils gain knowledge and the skills required to apply this through an exploration of a termly history topic presented as an enquiry question. For example, in EYFS and KS1 pupils learn about Walthamstow and London’s history which is built upon in Year 3 with their study of Britain from Stone Age to the Anglo Saxons. UPKS2 then looks at a global perspective of history exploring concepts such as empire, democracy and war throughout periods of history. This sequences a chronological narrative for pupils to explore the disciplinary history concepts of: cause and consequence, sources and interpretations, similarity and difference and change. 

Local history is embedded throughout and pupils have the opportunity to go on local history visits and workshops to bring this learning to life, and through whole school events such as Local History Month.