Welcome to St Bede's School History page
On this page you will find out about the History Curriculum at St Bede's School and how it is organised throughout Key Stage One and Key Stage Two. If you would like any further information please see Mrs Glaister.
Intent
At St Bede’s our history curriculum is ambitious and has been designed to give all learners the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life.
We want the children to learn historical facts and knowledge that carry through from EYFS to Year six and further into their lives beyond primary school but balanced with an understanding of historical processes and second order concepts such as change and continuity and cause and consequence. It is our vision for the children to question knowledge as we teach them and to encourage and develop historical enquiry and thinking.
We follow the National Curriculum for history (please see the link below) and our programme of study has been designed to ensure clear planning and progression through the year groups. We make full use of the resources within the immediate and wider local area enabling the children to develop a deep understanding of the history in their locality.
In line with the National Curriculum we aim to ensure that all pupils:
Gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world which helps to stimulate pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past; Are encouraged to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments and develop perspective and judgement; Begin to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversities of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.
Implementation
History is taught in half termly units throughout the year, so that children achieve depth in their learning. The subject leader and teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each unit to ensure progression throughout the year groups across the school. By the end of year 6, children will have a chronological understanding of British history from the Stone Age to the present day. They are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods and their own lives. Interlinked with this are studies of world history, such as the ancient civilisations of Greece and the Egyptians. Cross curricular outcomes in history are specifically planned for, with strong links between the history curriculum and English lessons enabling further contextual learning however this does not impact on the history focus of the unit being taught. The local area is also fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice. Planning is informed by and aligned with the National Curriculum. Consideration is given to how greater depth will be taught, learnt and demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.
Our aims and outcomes are achieved in a number of ways:
- Through the use of knowledge organisers.
- Progression in historical vocabulary across the year groups.
- Chronological development – through a timeline that moves up through the year groups and KS2 history taught in chronological order.
- The use of artefacts and sources – we have a close link with our local museum Tullie House and most year groups access loan boxes and attend historical theme days linked to the unit being taught as well as having the opportunity to enhance learning through library topic boxes.
- Trips and visitors coming into school are planned for to enhance learning – such as Year Two comparing firefighting techniques from then and now by visiting the local fire station, Year Three visiting Vindolanda during their Romans unit, Tullie House supporting Year Four to create a pop up museum for the rest of the school to visit based on the Egyptians and Year Five working with Keele University to discover what a historian is.
- The learning environment is designed to ensure children develop their history knowledge, and continue to know more, remember more and understand more. Knowledge walls and class timelines are key drivers to this, with teachers making reference to them during lessons and at other regular times during the week, including during weekly knowledge quizzes.
- We make links with parents by recording weekly work on Seesaw, sharing knowledge organisers both in class and at home and through updating curriculum information on the website. Through these methods parents are aware of the history being taught including vocabulary and can further support their child’s learning at home.
In the EYFS children are given a secure grounding in the prime areas of learning, ensuring they have a good foundation on which to build through the specific areas, including understanding the world. Areas of provision are enhanced to ensure vocabulary understanding and extension, and develop understanding of the past, present and the difference between the two.
Impact
Outcomes in history evidence a broad and balanced curriculum and demonstrate the children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge. Teachers adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of all children.
At the beginning of the year, each teacher will make links to prior historical units taught to gather information about previous learning and attainment. This will then enable the teacher to plug any gaps in learning before starting the new history unit. Throughout the unit prior learning will be reinforced while introducing new skills, knowledge and vocabulary.
Key questioning and addressing misconceptions during lessons, quizzes and assessment of knowledge and skills takes place at the end of each unit to check the children’s understanding and provide next steps for future historical units. This information can be shared with parents and with their new teachers as they move through the year groups.
History Curriculum Document
Cross curricular writing in History
What is a Historian?
Dr Peter Collinge from Keele university came to tell Y5 all about the job of a historian. He showed us the rules of the Carlisle Workhouse as well as their diet. He also asked us to transcribe letters and vouchers from the 1700s. They were from people who needed help to buy food, clothing and housing. We had a great time learning about the past with Dr Pete and his two helpers Elaine and Joe.
Sue Templeton form Cumbria University came in this morning to teach Y5 about the workhouse in Carlisle. They used photographs, maps, census returns and a painting to explore Carlisle's past.
Year Six WWII visit to Tullie House - January 2019
Year Two visit to Carlisle Castle - June 2018
Year Two visited the Weeping Widow Poppy installation and The Cumbrian Museum of Military Life's Remembrance 100 exhibition.
What is a Historian?
Poppy visits Year Two - November 17
Poppy visited Year Two to tell her story about her brother Wilfred who fought in World War One. We learnt so much about the war - thank you for visiting us Poppy!
Remembrance Day November 10th 2017
Reception, Year One and Year Three watched a special Remembrance Day service prepared by Year Two at St Bede's Church. We read out prayers, sang hymns, listened to The Last Post and held a two minutes silence - it was a very moving service.
Remembrance Day - November 2016
and
Poppy's Visit
Battle of the Somme Centenary - July 2016
Jules Wooding from the Cumbrian Museum of Military Life gave a presentation to KS2 about The Battle of the Somme. Her talk focused on the many local men who served in the Border Regiment during World War One. She also discussed her own personal link to the Somme. An interesting and thought provoking afternoon - Thank you Jules.
Here are some photographs of the History work we have been doing...
Remembrance Day Service 2015
On Thursday 12th November Reception and Year One watched a special Remembrance Day service, prepared by Year Two, at St Bede's Church. During the service the children joined in with a 2 minutes silence, listened to The Last Post, read out prayers written by Year Two, sang hymns and visited the war memorial where our poppy wreaths were displayed for all to see.
Please look at the photos below of this lovely service.
Useful History Websites
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/site/history.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/forkids/
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/kids-only/
http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/history/
Red, White and Blue Day - 13th November 2014
The children dressed up in red, white and blue clothing on Thursday 13th November to raise money for various military charities. We ended the day by holding a concert in the hall for all of the children and parents. The concert began with an interesting talk by Jules Wooding from the Cumbria Museum of Military Life. The children were encouraged to answer questions posed by Jules and she was impressed with their level of enthusiasm. Children from years Two, Four and Six then performed a variety of songs and recited poetry from WW1. We finished the concert by asking all the children, staff and parents to join in with the well known song 'Pack Up Your Troubles' which was a lot of fun! Parents stayed after the performance to view work that the children had completed on the Centenary and to enjoy a cup of tea and a poppy biscuit. A fabulous afternoon was had by all!