History

Intent

Our aim is for all children at Humshaugh C of E (Aided) First School to develop a deep love of History. We strive to engage our children in learning about the past, how it has shaped our present and its impact on our future. We hope to provide children with the knowledge and understanding they need to successfully evaluate the significance of past events.  In line with our Vision – ‘Being Good Soil’, our primary aim is that we can learn from the historical lives of others and significant events to help shape our own lives and build better futures by being stewards of the past.

Implementation

We promote passion for History by delivering a range of rich, well-planned historical learning experiences to provide stimulating, real-life contexts for our children. We create opportunities for our children to use their own understanding of our world to meaningfully acknowledge the impact of the past. We establish the chronology of significant historical moments (both nationally and around the world) to create a virtual roadmap for children to use when sequencing events of the past. We host themed whole-school history events that immerse children into various historical concepts and link topics progressively across year groups. We are proud of our heritage and our history curriculum incorporates the significance of the Romans and their impact in Britain. This is enhanced by visits which include, Chesters Roman Fort, Vindolanda and Housesteads.

Our History curriculum is further enriched by our Forest School programme which enables us to ‘bring history to life’ for our children, with afternoons spent in Saxon settlements, Roman camps, Viking villages, or as prehistoric hunter-gatherers. The children leave the world of school behind as they take part in immersive activities, for example foraging for wild food, making their own Viking weapons and tools, or taking part in archaeological digs. In this setting, children are able to role play and imagine freely and to let the awe and wonder of this subject really sink in.

Impact

Our children are passionate historical learners who enjoy understanding more about the past. They are able to successfully sequence significant moments within our country’s history and can establish clear links between ‘then’ and ‘now’. Our children are enthusiastic to work collaboratively as a whole school and can create a fuller picture, as a team, through research and feedback assemblies.