Intent:

At Portfields Primary School, we aim to cultivate a passion for history in all our pupils. Our ambitious and inclusive curriculum goes beyond mere factual transmission, fostering critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep understanding of the past's relevance to the present. We empower our pupils to become informed and active citizens, equipped to engage with and interpret the complexities of the world around them.

Implementation:

Core Principles:

• Challenging Themes: We engage pupils with thought-provoking topics that connect to their own lives and spark curiosity about diverse historical experiences.
• Question-Driven Learning: We utilise open-ended and stimulating questions to guide inquiry, stretch understanding, and encourage debate.
• Vocabulary Development: Talk Cards become integral tools for children to explore and use historical vocabulary confidently.
• Spiral Learning: Our "flashback" approach revisits past learning across lessons, units, years, and year groups, building a strong foundation and reinforcing connections.

Curriculum Framework:

• Rising Stars as Foundation: We utilise the Rising Stars scheme as a robust framework, ensuring alignment with the 2014 National Curriculum.
• Adaptation and Extension: We adapt and extend Rising Stars resources to reflect our local context and incorporate challenging themes.
• Primary and Secondary Sources: We actively engage pupils with historical sources, both primary and secondary, to develop critical analysis skills.
• Cross-Curricular Links: We foster rich connections with other subjects, enriching historical understanding and making learning more meaningful.

Assessment and Evaluation:

• Variety of Assessment Methods: We employ a diverse range of assessment tools, including formative and summative assessments, to gauge individual progress and identify areas for development.
• Monitoring and Reflection: We continuously monitor the effectiveness of our curriculum through pupil voice, learning walks, and data analysis, leading to ongoing refinement and improvement.

Impact:

Through our engaging and challenging history curriculum, we strive to equip our pupils with the knowledge, skills, and passion to:

• Become critical thinkers and independent learners.
• Understand and analyse diverse historical perspectives.
• Evaluate evidence and develop informed opinions.
• Make connections between the past, present, and future.
• Contribute meaningfully to their communities and the world.

This intent and implementation statement outlines the core principles and practices that guide our history curriculum at Portfields Primary School. We are committed to fostering a love of history in every pupil, empowering them to become informed and active citizens of the world.