History

History

Intent

The History curriculum at West Wycombe School gives every pupil the opportunity to gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Within our History lessons, we aim to inspire pupils’ curiosity about the past. We aim to enable pupils to ask perceptive questions, weigh evidence and develop perspective and judgement.  History enables pupils to develop a context for their growing sense of identity and a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people.

Implementation

Pupils at West Wycombe School will develop knowledge of different periods in history and learn facts about that period in a linear way. History topics are studied across a half term, and pupils will relate their learnt understanding to other periods in history previously studied. They will be able to place their history topic on a timeline and understand what important events occurred in this period and how they affected the local area. Pupils will develop an understanding of the complexity of people’s lives, the diversity of societies, the process of change and the relationships between different groups. At West Wycombe School, we teach History for an hour every week, with this alternating per term with Geography. The current scheme in use is PlanBee, however teachers have autonomy with how lessons are taught. 

Impact

Pupils at West Wycombe School will develop skills and understanding through historical enquiry which will encourage them to think like historians. They will ask questions about the past, analyse evidence, think critically, appreciate different perspectives and develop informed judgements. Within lessons, children will develop an understanding of chronology, interpretations of evidence (first and secondary sources), changes within time and across time periods. Pupils will gain and use historical language appropriate to the period in history studied. The variety of language that is spoken and heard during history lessons plays a key factor in the development of topic specific vocabulary and the ability to communicate confidently in styles appropriate to a range of audiences.

Page last updated: 04/04/23