Bolsover Church of England Junior School
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, looking at traditional customs and arts and exploring the invadors and native people of England. Educational visits to places such as Creswell Crags 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. 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
Curriculum Document - what do the progression of knowledge, skills and vocabulary in history look like at Bolsover?
Our History Curriculum
Knowledge organisers
Assessment in History
Assessment of pupil progress in History aims to assist pupils in understanding their own progress, aid teachers with their planning, as well as informing the school’s monitoring of progression and attainment. Therefore, children should assess their work in accordance with the school’s policy for self-assessment as they would do for any other written work. Teachers should ensure that children strive to meet the skills, whilst also building up their knowledge and understanding of History.
Assessments can be made through a variety of forms, including:
· Talking to pupils and asking questions
· Discussing pupils’ work with them
· Marking work against the learning objectives
· Specific assignments for individual pupils
· Observing practical tasks and activities
· Pupils’ self-evaluation of their work
The assessments made throughout the academic year are recorded and used to inform the end of year reports to parents/guardians. The co-ordinator, with support from the wider management team, will also carry out annual History drop ins, work scrutinise, evaluations of lesson planning, conducting pupil interviews, discussions with pupils, staff and parents as well as carrying out formal lesson observations. Book scrutinise will now be taking place every half term.
Careers in History
Within history we give our children the knowledge and skills to be become good historians. Using these skills our children can go on to develop careers within this subject area. Our young historians have the power to become:
History teachers,
Museum Curators and Technicians,
Heritage Site leaders,
Historic House curators,
Archaeologists,
Conservationists
Useful links and websites for History