History at Hylands
At Hylands we believe that History is all around us. Our aim is to
encourage pupils to develop an appreciation and understanding of the
past. The study of history ignites children’s curiosity about the past in
Britain and the wider world. Through finding out about how and why the
world, our country, culture and local community have developed over
time, children understand how the past influences the present. History
enables children to develop a context for their growing sense of identity
and a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events
and people. What they learn through history can influence their
decisions about personal choices, attitudes and values. At Hylands our
intent, when teaching history, is to stimulate the children’s curiosity in
order for them to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding.
The National Curriculum states that ‘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.’ This is is a curiosity that we encourage here at
Hylands.
We teach the National Curriculum, supported by a clear skills and
knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built
on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for
all children. It is important that the children develop progressive skills of
a historian throughout their time at Hylands and do not just learn a series
of facts about the past. In History, pupils find evidence, weigh it up and
reach their own conclusion. To do this successfully, as historians, they
need to be able to research, interpret evidence, including primary and
secondary sources, and have the necessary skills to argue for their point
of view; skill that will help them in their adult life.
By the time the children at Hylands leave our school they should have
developed: A secure knowledge and understanding of people, events
and contexts from the historical periods covered. The ability to think
critically about history and communicate confidently in styles appropriate
to a range of audiences. The ability to consistently support, evaluate
and challenge their own and others’ views using detailed, appropriate
and accurate historical evidence derived from a range of sources.