History

Intent

Our exciting history curriculum seeks to provide a rich and engaging exploration of the past, aligning with and extending beyond the National Curriculum. We aim to inspire a sense of curiosity in our pupils about events and people that have shaped both British history and the wider world. Our curriculum is carefully designed to reflect the diverse backgrounds of our school community.

Implementation:

• History is taught every week, every other term (Terms 2, 4, and 6). Our curriculum is designed for sustained engagement and cumulative learning.
• We have chosen to design our own curriculum which more than covers the national curriculum requirements.
• We have developed knowledge organisers for every topic, which serve as invaluable tools for reinforcing key vocabulary, particularly for pupils for whom English is an additional language (EAL).
• Our topics are selected to enrich pupils' global awareness and encourage a broad understanding of history.
• Our chosen topics encourage worldwide knowledge which is reflective of our diverse school community.
• We promote our pupil’s curiosity about the past by using primary and secondary sources, encouraging questioning and supporting critical thinking to become history investigators.
• We support our pupils in developing a structured understanding of history, from critical thinking to evidence evaluation.
• Class discussions encourage them to express their thoughts logically, weigh arguments, and form reasoned judgements.
• We incorporate various activities such as role-playing, storytelling, and history-themed projects. These encourage active participation and deeper understanding, helping pupils connect with the material personally and meaningfully.
• Pupils are assessed through both formative and summative methods to inform next steps and progression for all, including SEND.

Impact:

By the end of their time at St Simon’s, pupils are well-equipped to ask perceptive questions, engage in thoughtful analysis, think critically, evaluate evidence and have an awareness of significant events in chronological order. They appreciate the diversity of societies, the relationships between different groups, and how these have evolved into the world we inhabit today. When the children leave St Simon’s they will not only have a love for history but will also be informed, empathetic, and reflective individuals ready to contribute positively to society.