Umberleigh Academy Vision for History

“History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity so that we can better face the future.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Robert Penn Warren

Vision
History plays a crucial role in helping us understand our own identity and a sense of place. We seek to provide the important skills and knowledge required for children to grasp the importance of a sense of time. This will allow them to have an understanding of how our local communities, cultures, Britain and the wider world have developed through different historical periods.

Intent
We believe that every child should have a robust sense of chronology which will support them in recognising key trends in historical and human development. By focussing on historical coherence, we will support the children in having a deeper understanding of how key historical events are linked to each other and how trends in human behaviour and activities have been driven by the values of the time. This will help children learn and understand the consequences of their own actions. Children will also begin to develop an understanding that there are different versions of history. Through this understanding, they will begin to use evaluate sources critically and reach their own conclusions.

Implementation.
Children are provided with high-quality teaching and learning experiences drawing on a range of pedagogies to engage the children. Each child as they progress through the school will cover the National Curriculum in its entirety. Our four-year rolling programme will be rigorously monitored and evaluated by our History Leader, by the SLT and Local Governing Body in order to ensure high standards are achieved.  We will further develop the range and quality of resources available to all children to enrich and support their learning in history. The use of external experts and resources, including trips and visitors coming into school, will be an important part of the learning program. This will enhance the children’s enjoyment and therefore engagement in history.

Impact
Through our carefully designed history curriculum, children will have gained coherent knowledge and understanding of local, national and world history. Children will be equipped with the tools to ask perceptive questions and be able to think critically. This will support them in weighing up arguments, interpreting information from a range of sources, developing differing perspectives allowing them to arrive at their own judgements. By the time the children leave Umberleigh Academy, they will have an understanding of not only their own identity and place in the world, but also how communities and cultures are all intertwined. They will have developed a knowledge of human interaction and how the past has shaped us.

“History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversities of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.”
                                                                                    National Curriculum, 2014