History
History at New Oscott Primary School
Intent
At New Oscott Primary School we aim to ensure that all History lessons follow our 6 key principles: Honesty, Appreciation, Respect, Cooperation, Kindness and Determination.
A high-quality history education will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding ofBritain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. National Curriculum
Engaging children and young people in investigating questions about people and events in the past helps them to better understand their lives today, the contested nature of knowledge and prepares them for the future as more informed citizens. Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum 2009 Final Report
We aim to engage pupils with a relevant, exciting and challenging History curriculum which inspires curiosity and is appropriate for preparing them for an adult life in the 21st century. Children will develop historical skills, build and consolidate historical knowledge and vocabulary and make links in their learning by understanding key historical concepts. This approach will ensure children commit their learning to their long term memory and have a secure chronological understanding of the past.
We use quality resources from the ‘Collins Connected History’ scheme that are purposeful and relevant. Children are exposed to a wide range of sources of evidence and inspired to ask questions which promote independent learning. They are encouraged to question the world around them and to use prior learning to explain what they discover. Children work together cooperatively to question, explore, discover, justify, debate and reach informed conclusions.
The pupils at New Oscott Primary School can appreciate the history of our local area and understand how the history of our local area relates to the wider history of the UK. At our school we ensure that all pupils can engage with historical learning and develop as young historians irrespective of their race, cultural background or gender. Mutual respect and the fostering of empathy and community understanding at local, regional, national and global scales lies at the heart of the study of History and at our school we model this in terms of the inclusive nature of the learning and teaching we provide.
During our lessons, the children are exposed to historical vocabulary in a progressive and ambitious manner: lessons involve clear and concise modelling of this vocabulary giving children the confidence to use the correct terminology in their work. Children are encouraged to use their knowledge and vocabulary in all lessons, particularly to improve the quality of their creative writing.
By developing our own History curriculum, children are constantly showing that they are ‘knowing more and remembering more’ through regular retrieval practise and building on prior knowledge.
A copy of the programmes of study for KS1 and KS2 can be found below.
Key History Principles at New Oscott Primary School
History Curriculum Expectations 2022
Our Curriculum
Click on the unit title to be taken to the knowledge organiser detailing key vocabulary, knowledge, concepts and skills.
KS1
In Y1, the children explore the following enquiries;
Toys: How do our toys and games compare with those of children in the 1960s?
Local History: Why is the history of my locality significant?
Kings and Queens: What can we find out about different Kings and Queens?
In Y2, the children explore the following enquiries;
Explorers: What does it take to be a great explorer?
The Great Fire of London: Why do we know so much about the Great Fire of London?
History Makers: Who is the greatest history maker?
In Y3, the children explore the following enquiries;
The Stone Age: How did life change for Ancient Britons during the Stone Age?
The Bronze Age: What is the secret of the standing stones?
The Iron Age: How do artefacts help us to understand the lives of people in Iron Age Britain?
In Y4, the children explore the following enquiries;
Romans: How did the arrival of the Romans change Britain?
Anglo Saxons: Who were the Anglo Saxons and how do we know what was important to them?
Vikings: What did the Vikings want and how did Alfred help to stop them getting it?
In Y5, the children explore the following enquiries;
Ancient Maya: Why did the ancient Maya change their way of life?
The Battle of Britain: Why was winning the Battle of Britain so important?
Local History Study: Tamworth Castle: Why is the history of Tamworth also the ‘History of England’?
In Y6, the children explore the following enquiries;
Egypt: What happened to the boy behind the golden mask?
Ancient Greece: The story of the Trojan Horse – fact, myth or legend?
The British Empire: Why did Britain once rule the largest empire the world has ever seen?
Vocabulary
Vocabulary development is at the heart of New Oscott Primary School’s History Curriculum. Vocabulary is introduced and revisited throughout a child’s time at New Oscott Primary School. Children are actively encouraged to use this vocabulary in their creative writing. Click on the links for access to year group vocabulary lists.
Year 1 Vocabulary
History and Geography
History and Geography
Year 2 Vocabulary
History and Geography
History and Geography
Year 3 Vocabulary
History and Geography
History and Geography
Year 4 Vocabulary
History and Geography
History and Geography
Year 5 Vocabulary
History and Geography
History and Geography
Year 6 Vocabulary
History and Geography
History and Geography
Pupil Voice
Thomas Year 6
My favourite lesson was learning about the story of the Trojan horse because it proves that the Ancient Greeks were very clever.
We learn History at school so we don’t make the mistakes people in history made.
Lily Year 6
I have enjoyed History this year because I loved learning about The Shang Dynasty. I found it interesting because archaeologists found lots of things. I also enjoyed learning about the different art styles.
Eadie Year 3
I liked learning about the Bronze age as I was able to be creative in lessons.
Sam Year 4
I enjoyed the Anglo-Saxon and Roman work as it was interesting and I learned lots of new things.
Myles Year 4
I enjoyed learning about the Romans – especially all about their defence tactics.
Jacob Year 4
I love history because the past is so interesting.
Sofia Year 5
I have enjoyed learning about the Mayans because they were so unique. I loved their lifestyle and how interesting they were.
Henry Year 6
I like our history lessons because I can find out about the Greek and Romans Gods. My favourite topic was the Shang Dynasty because I enjoyed learning about the emperors.
Rebecca Year 6
We learn history because children need to learn how different the world was years ago.
Freya Year 5
I have enjoyed history especially learning about the Mayans because we had an expert come in and it was amazing to learn about what life was like many years ago.
Learning history at New Oscott will help us at secondary school when we study history.
Miah Year 5
We learn history to help us find out what went well and what didn’t work in the past. It also helps you learn about different cultures and beliefs. In the future we could even become a Historian!
Extra-Curricular Opportunities
Cultural Capital is ‘the essential knowledge that pupils need to be educated citizens, introducing them to the best that has been thought and said, and helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.’ Ofsted
In addition to the challenging and enriching History curriculum we offer, we believe that children can increase their ‘cultural capital’ by experiencing a wide variety of extra-curricular experiences out of the classroom and at home.
School Trips and Visitors
Trips and workshops allow children to immerse themselves in history. They are given the opportunity to use learnt knowledge and vocabulary in a different context. They are able to develop historical skills and work like real historians exploring the past.
2021-2022 Trips, visits and workshops
Year 1 – Sutton Coldfield Park
Year 2 – Professor McGinty’s Roman workshop (Pompeii focus)
Year 3 – Stone and Bronze Age workshop at Sarehouse Mill
Year 4 – Professor McGinty’s Roman workshop
Year 5 – Mayan workshop, Professor McGinty’s World War 2 workshop and trip to Tamworth Castle
Year 6 - Professor McGinty’s Ancient Greek Workshop
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
