History

INTENT

History at WPA provides pupils with a clear understanding of Britain’s past and the history of the world around them. It endeavors to develop their knowledge of key events, people and changes and will help them to see the similarities and differences between them. Our aim is to provide a history curriculum that inspires children to be inquisitive learners and critical thinkers as they learn about different times in history throughout the school. We aspire for children to learn about key people from a range of ethnicities, cultures and traditions. The history curriculum taught at our school will help children to understand the complexity of different societies and how these have led to life today.  Substantive and disciplinary knowledge is defined and explored to make learning stick. At WPA we use the CUSP history curriculum as we feel this prepares our historians for the next stage of their education.

IMPLEMENTATION

The structure of CUSP history curriculum is built around the principles of advancing cumulative knowledge, chronology, change through cause and consequence, as well as making connections within and throughout periods of time studied. CUSP History is planned so that the retention of knowledge is much more than just ‘in the moment knowledge’.

The history curriculum goes beyond the (2014) National Curriculum which outlines the knowledge and skills taught in each key stage. The history curriculum is taught through carefully planned modules to build  chronological understanding, to be able to explain connections, contrasts and trends over time and to ask historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance.  

Pupils learn about each history unit through many different primary and secondary sources such as stories, videos, artefacts, pictures and e-books. It is very important to us that history is inclusive at our school and therefore is made accessible to all children by clear adapted tasks and opportunities for the children to share their knowledge in different ways such as through discussion and drama as well as scaffolded written tasks. We feel knowledge notes allow all pupils to access history learning and supports their memory retention. Assessment in history is carried out through effective questioning, fast feedback and peer marking.  

IMPACT

The impact of our use of CUSP History  is reflected in pupils’ understanding of Britain’s past and the wider world, as well as their ability to make connections across time. Outcomes in books demonstrate a broad and balanced curriculum, showcasing children’s acquisition of key knowledge across national curriculum strands. Through engaging with primary and secondary sources, pupils develop critical thinking skills, historical enquiry, and the ability to articulate their knowledge confidently. The structured approach ensures long-term retention, allowing children to build upon prior learning. By incorporating discussion, drama, and scaffolded tasks, we ensure history is inclusive and accessible to all. As pupils progress, they gain the disciplinary skills and substantive knowledge needed for a successful transition into secondary education and beyond. Our curriculum equips them with the ability to critically examine historical events, ask meaningful questions, and apply their learning to the world around them.