History

Intent (What is our History curriculum?) 

At Haddenham Community Junior School, we use Kapow Primary's History Scheme as the basis for our lessons. Its aim is to inspire pupils to become curious and creative thinkers who develop a deep understanding of local and national history, as well as the history of the wider world. We want pupils to gain the confidence to think critically, ask questions, and explain and analyse historical evidence. Our goal is to expose children to a diverse range of societies, fostering empathy and an appreciation for the complexity of people's lives. These skills are taught through various time periods and concepts to develop a stronger sense of chronology. All of this contributes to children becoming inquisitive historians.

Implementation (How do we deliver the curriculum?) 

The History curriculum is organised around inquiry-based questions. Children are encouraged to follow the inquiry cycle (Question, Investigate, Interpret, Evaluate, and Conclude, Communicate) when addressing historical questions. Over the course of the scheme, children develop their understanding of the following key disciplinary concepts:

• Change and continuity

• Cause and consequence

• Similarities and differences

• Historical significance

• Historical interpretations

• Sources of evidence

These concepts will be encountered in different contexts during the study of local, British, and world history. The children will engage in activities to compare and contrast characters from stories, including historical figures, deepening their understanding of how individual lives fit into broader historical narratives.

The children will have varied opportunities to learn how historians use their skills to analyse the past and make judgements. They will confidently develop and use their own  historical skill set. As children progress through the Kapow scheme, they will create their own historical enquiries to study using sources and the skills they have developed.

Substantive concepts such as power, trade, invasion and settlement, are clearly identified in Lower Key Stage 2 and revisited in Upper Key Stage 2, allowing knowledge of these key concepts to grow. These concepts are returned to in different contexts, meaning that pupils begin to develop an understanding of these abstract themes which are crucial to their future learning in History.

Impact (How do we measure attainment?) 

The expected impact of following the Kapow History scheme of work is that children will:

• Know and understand the history of Britain, how people's lives have shaped this nation, and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world.

• Develop an understanding of the history of the wider world, including ancient civilisations, empires, non-European societies, and the achievements of mankind.

• Develop a historically-grounded understanding of substantive concepts such as power, invasion, settlement and migration, civilisation, religion, trade, achievements of mankind, and society.

• Form historical arguments based on cause and effect, consequence, continuity and change, similarity and differences.

• Have an appreciation for significant individuals, inventions, and events that impact our world both in history and from the present day.

• Understand how historians learn about the past and construct accounts.

• Ask historically-valid questions through an inquiry-based approach to learning to create structured accounts.

• Explain how and why interpretations of the past have been constructed using evidence.

• Make connections between historical concepts and timescales.

• Meet the end-of-key-stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for History at the end of Key stage 2.