The intention of the History curriculum at Shakespeare Primary School is to deepen pupils understanding of the world around them allowing them to explore their place within it and creating a sense of ‘Then and Now’. Children have opportunities to investigate and interpret the past, understand chronology, build an overview of Britain’s past as well as that of the wider world, and to be able to communicate historically. Local context gives our children an idea of Plymouth and the South West’s role in local, national and world history.

The importance of the children getting a sense of the ‘Here and Now/ When and Where’ cannot be underestimated. It will equip them to contextualise their learning and allow them to develop conceptual schema upon which they form an informed opinion based on knowledge and understanding, not rhetoric. It aims to ensure that children within LAT can go on and take a responsible and active role in shaping, not only their local community, but communities regionally, nationally and globally if they wish.

History at Key Stage One has been designed to ground pupils to the ‘Here and Now’ from which to build upon the ‘When and Where’, giving them a reference point to build their conceptual schema throughout KS1.

History in Year 3 looks at the changes in settlement and land use beginning in the stone age, then through time, this theme leads onto the impact of the Romans later in the year.  Terms 5 and 6 build on the link to the Romans through Pompeii and Vesuvius still active today as a way into Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Mountains. While the study of the South West and Southern Italy’s similarities and differences can explore the impact on the physical and human environment of such features.

In Year 4 Land use and settlement can be revisited through the theme of Vikings and Anglo Saxons, while spending time exploring the importance of natural resources and their availability can give motives for the Viking invasion, drawing links back to the work on the Roman invasion.  Terms 3 and 4 give a chance to look at a contrasting civilisation and see its influence on those already looked at.  In the Summer term Year 4 can build upon all the areas of study within LKS2. The impact of climate on human Geography and the development of civilisation through agriculture, natural resources such as water and the impact rivers had on settlement, land use and the movement of people, materials and goods- within the UK and European region but framed against a global context.

Upper KS2:

Early in Year 5 a local study on Victorians and the industrial revolution develops and builds upon LKS2 , changes in settlement and land use, the influence of natural resources on this and the development of the British empire and the global trade links we have today.  They then progress to learn about the Islamic civilization later in Year 5.  In Year 6 a local and national perspective of World War Two followed finally by Ancient Egypt.

We use our Knowledge Organisers to focus the knowledge needed.  They all have a timeline that progresses over the year groups and helps to identify where their learning fits in history.