St John’s Meads C of E Primary SchoolAt SJM our vision is that we deliver a history curriculum that is accessible to all and one that will maximise the outcomes for every child so that they know more, remember more and understand more. Our teaching of history will help pupils gain a secure knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. The curriculum is structured in a way that allows for children to make links between current and previous learning. Teachers use the long term plans for history to make comparisons between historical periods previously taught, developing children’s chronological knowledge and understanding from The Prehistoric world to the present day. We also look at how and why a particular cultural phenomenon changes throughout many periods of history such as air transport, leisure and entertainment or crime and punishment.
We want children to be curious to know more about the past and to have the skills required to explore their own interests. History lessons focus on working as historians and developing historical skills and there are many opportunities for the curriculum to be enriched through historical visits, visitors and events held in school.
We aim to enable children to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. It is important for children to develop a sense of identity through learning about the past and we want them to know how history has shaped their own lives. This is why the local area is fully utilised to achieve the curriculum outcomes. We look closely at the development of Eastbourne as a seaside resort and why the development of air transport has such a pivotal role within our town’s life.
