‘The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.’ Theodore Roosevelt

At Parkgate, we understand the importance of learning from the past. History is all around us. We know that it enables children to develop a context for their growing sense of identity and a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people.

We believe that studying history allows our children to see how and why our community, our country and the world have changed over time. We believe that what children learn through history can influence their values and attitudes.

The History curriculum offer follows the national curriculum in KS1 and KS2 and the EYFS Statutory Framework and Development Matters in the early years. The History curriculum is ambitious and designed to give all learners, particularly the most disadvantaged and those with special educational needs, the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. Where required, pedagogy is adapted so that all pupils including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND are on the same knowledge journey towards the same endpoints. 

Our curriculum is carefully weighted with equal priority given to both substantive knowledge (people, dates and events) and disciplinary knowledge (how historians work and come to their conclusions). Clearly defined substantive knowledge end points are identified at the end at the end of the unit and disciplinary knowledge end points at the end of each key stage. Components (building blocks) are carefully sequenced so new knowledge builds on what has been previously taught and leads to the end points. 

Key concepts for example 'empire', 'legacy', 'religion' and 'settlement' are covered and repeated throughout the curriculum. Vocabulary is also taught explicitly in every lesson. Key words and concepts are mapped out in this document. There are also opportunities for developing reading in History.

In early years and KS1 plans are written following the end points and key concepts. This leads into a carefully tailored and sequenced curriculum taught in KS2, which has been developed pulling from resources such as Kapow and subject specialism from Secondary School colleagues in the Trust. This is enhanced with artefacts and disciplinary tasks so children have opportunity to practice the key history disciplinary concepts e.g. historical significance, similarities and differences and change and continuity.

Review and retrieval is a key part of every lesson. Quick quizzes and knowledge organisers are used to support this.

Our pupils represent an urban area of Coventry and this is reflected through an inclusive, diverse curriculum which is supported through additional extra-curricular focuses on events such as Remembrance Day, Black History Month.

The scheme of work supports our teachers in delivering focussed and engaging lessons which help to raise standards and allow all children to achieve to their full potential. This includes children of all abilities, social and cultural backgrounds, those with disabilities, EAL speakers and SEND statement and non-statemented.