As Historians, children at Beacon View Primary Academy are inspired to learn more about the past and understand how civilizations across the world have developed over time. Through carefully planned units, children have the opportunity to investigate, interpret and be curious about the past. Children also develop an understanding of chronology and are able to contextualize history through three vertical concepts that run through the core of our planning. These abstract ideas are:
- Quest for knowledge
- Power, empire and democracy
- Community and family
Children are provided with the opportunity to consider themselves and reflect on the impact of historical events on modern day living. Furthermore, they are empowered to take this further by considering both positive and negative experiences of many other civilizations across the world, including those of ethnic minorities. As a result of this, our children at Beacon View are able to challenge ideas of the past and ask historically curious questions.
Our History curriculum draws upon two main sources of knowledge:
- Substantive knowledge - this is the subject knowledge and explicit vocabulary used about the past
- Disciplinary knowledge - this is the use of the substantive knowledge and how children show their understanding through exploring historical arguments, claims and accounts. We call it ‘Working Historically.’
We believe that all children should make at least good progress in all areas of the curriculum that’s why our history curriculum is high quality, well sequenced and planned to demonstrate progression. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:
- Pre and post learning quizzes
- Pupil’s books
- Pupil discussions about their learning
History at Beacon View is planned to promote the cultural capital of all our children. We ensure that units, when applicable, are adapted to the local area so our children can make links to the history that surrounds them here in Portsmouth.
