St John's & St Peter's
CE Primary School
Our Learning
History
Vision
History is vital to exposing children to the powerful knowledge that can be learnt through looking at our past. When children develop a curiosity about how humankind has lived throughout history, we unlock their advancements in the arts, science, and philosophy, exploring the many wonders of different cultures. Furthermore, learning about the past helps children to make sense of the world in which they live as well as their own identity and challenges of their time. We seek to expand children’s knowledge so that they leave with a comprehensible understanding and appreciation of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Children will have access to a wide range of resources to assist them in their discovery and prospects across the curriculum to present, test and evaluate their historical knowledge. Our vision is that children will be confident, imaginative, and independent learners who delve deeper and make links to the past and the world which they live in now.
Find out MORE about our new ks2 history curriculum
In Summer 1, we transitioned away from our current schemes of learning for History, Geography and RE for KS2 and introduced 'Opening Worlds'.
What is 'Opening Worlds'?
Opening Worlds is a knowledge-rich humanities programme for History, Geography and Religion. Because of its rapidly discernible effects on literacy and highly inclusive approach, Opening Worlds is gaining appeal in schools tackling under-achievement in areas of social disadvantage.
The programme meets and substantially exceeds the demand of the National Curriculum for history and geography. The religion programme is compatible with the objectives of most SACRE locally agreed syllabuses in RE but substantially exceeds the knowledge-base and the resourcing that such local RE syllabuses offer. The programme is characterised by strong vertical sequencing within subjects (so that pupils gain security in a rich, broad vocabulary through systematic introduction, sustained practice and deliberate revisiting) and by intricate horizontal and diagonal connections, thus creating a curriculum whose effects are far greater than the sum of their parts.
Opening Worlds is rapidly becoming known for the following distinctive features:
- thoroughness in knowledge-building, achieved through intricate coherence and tight sequencing; • global and cultural breadth, embracing wide diversity across ethnicity, gender, region and community;
- rapid impact on literacy through systematic introduction and revisiting of new vocabulary;
- subject-specific disciplinary rigour, teaching pupils to interpret and argue, to advance and weigh claims, and to understand the distinctive ways in which subject traditions enquire and seek truth;
- well-told stories: beautifully written narratives and the nurture of teachers’ own story-telling art;
- a highly inclusive approach, secured partly through common knowledge (giving access to common language) and partly through thorough high-leverage teaching that is pacey, oral, interactive and fun;
- efficient use of lesson time, blending sharp pace, sustained practice and structured reflection;
- rapid improvement of teachers’ teaching through systematic training in the Opening Worlds evidence-informed, high-leverage techniques.
For more information, visit: KS2 Curriculum - Opening Worlds
To understand more about Progression in Opening Worlds History, please download the document at the bottom of the page.
Intent
History EYFS to KS1 Bridging Document
Implementation
History Curriculum Implementation
This year to celebrate Black History Month, we hosted an Exhibition around the theme of 'Celebrating Sisters.' Each class produced a project board about key black women throughout history, and hosted children and parents in the hall in our own mini museum exhibition! Why not take a look...
