Intent, Implementation, and Impact Statement for History at Monkshouse Primary

Intent
At our primary school, our intent for the teaching and learning of History is to provide our pupils with a rich and engaging curriculum that fosters a deep understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It enables our pupils to develop their historical thinking skills and it inspires pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. We believe that History plays a crucial role in helping pupils develop skills of enquiry and questioning; to become open minded “historical detectives” and explore the past in an exciting way.

Our intent is that our teaching of History will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. We aim for it to inspire pupils’ curiosity about the past to develop their understanding of key events. Children will ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, and develop perspective and judgement. Through the teaching of History, we endeavour to teach pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, including those of the present, the process of change, the diversity of societies and beliefs, whilst celebrating these differences.

Implementation
To ensure the effective implementation of our History curriculum, we employ a range of strategies and methods that provide our pupils with meaningful experiences and opportunities to develop their historical understanding. The following key elements are incorporated into our approach:

Sequencing of Knowledge and Concepts
We carefully plan and sequence our History curriculum so that it builds on prior knowledge, enabling pupils to develop a coherent and chronological understanding of historical events, people, and significant periods. This approach allows pupils to make links, understand cause and effect, and develop a broader contextual understanding of history.

Engaging Learning Experiences
We provide a range of practical and engaging learning experiences that enable pupils to explore History in a way that is meaningful and relevant to their lives. This may include visits to historical sites, handling artefacts, using primary and secondary sources, re-enactments, and immersive experiences. These hands-on opportunities foster a love for History and help pupils connect to the subject.

Development of Historical Skills
High quality history lessons will inspire pupils to want to know more about the past and to think and act as historians, understanding their role in time.

We teach and develop key historical skills in our lessons inspiring pupils to want to know more about the past and to think and act like historians using their skills to pose questions, evaluate evidence and draw conclusions. Pupils are given regular opportunities to practice and apply these skills through activities such as researching, debating, and presenting their findings.

Inclusive Approach
We recognise the importance of an inclusive approach to teaching history, ensuring that our lessons reflect the diversity of our school and wider society. We actively seek out and include diverse stories and perspectives from different cultures, religions, genders, and ethnicities. We promote a respectful and tolerant attitude towards all aspects of history and encourage pupils to critically evaluate historical interpretations and narratives.

Cross-Curricular Links
We make meaningful cross-curricular links with other subjects, such as English, Geography, Art, and ICT, to deepen pupils' understanding and enable them to apply their historical knowledge in different contexts.

Impact
Through our History provision, our pupils demonstrate a secure understanding of historical knowledge and concepts and become aware of how historical events have shaped the world we live in.

As they move up the school, the children gain confidence in recalling key facts, explaining historical events, and making explicit links between historical narratives. Through assessment and monitoring, we track pupils' progress and address any gaps in knowledge or understanding.

Children demonstrate confidence and enjoyment in history as they are able to confidently talk about what they have learnt in history using subject specific vocabulary and draw upon their memorable experiences and opportunities that last a lifetime.

Our pupils show development in their evaluative skills, enabling them to challenge historical sources and narratives and make informed judgments based on evidence and support their arguments with reasoning.

We inspire our pupils to become lifelong learners with a genuine interest in History and an appreciation for its role in shaping the world.