History at Bolsover

'Learning from the past, to develop our future'

History - To learn from the past

Subject Intent

In the heart of a well-known historical community, the children at Bolsover are able to access the knowledge and chronological understanding of both local and national History and relate this to their everyday lives. At Bolsover, we aim to embrace the history of our local past, significant British events and those of the wider world. 

By using thematic topic areas, History is portrayed both inside and outside the classroom through meaningful pupil-inspired activities. Our aspirations are to embrace our pupils' historic knowledge of their local surroundings to progress their understanding of the world they live in. Pupils appreciate the history that is on their doorstep, as well as that outside Bolsover. 

Children can reinforce their skills from most other subject areas alongside History itself - for example; creating timelines and highlighting connections, determining family trees and looking at traditional arts. Educational visits to places such as Creswell Crags, Hardwick Hall and their very own Bolsover Castle increases the pupils' motivation and drive to succeed in their learning. Pupils will be inspired to think critically, ask perceptive questions and research sufficient evidence to further their understanding of our historical past. We promote pupils' SMSC development through History by promoting an understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their heritage and that of others. Our History curriculum develops pupils' understanding of chronology, investigate and interpret past events as well as communicate historically.

Subject Co-ordinator

The subject co-ordinator for History in school is Miss Billie Ratcliffe, who can be contacted on 01246 822324, or via our school email at info@bolsover-jun.derbyshire.sch.uk. Our nominated governor for history is Ms Sarah Tew who can be contacted via the same contacts above.

Purpose of study

A high-quality history education will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. Teaching should equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.

The National Curriculum Aims

The National Curriculum for History aims to ensure that all pupils: 

• know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world
• know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires; characteristic features of past non-European societies; achievements and follies of mankind
• gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of abstract terms such as ‘empire’, ‘civilisation’, ‘parliament’ and ‘peasantry’
• understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends, frame historically valid questions and create their own structured accounts, including written narratives and analyses
• understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims, and discern how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed
• gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts: understanding the connections between local, regional, national and international history; between cultural, economic, military, political, religious and social history; and between short- and long-term timescales 

Subject Policies and Guidance

History Policy

History Curriculum Addendum - due to Remote Home Learning

Curriculum Document - what do the progression of knowledge, skills and vocabulary in history look like at Bolsover?