History

At Cookley Primary School we introduce children to what is involved in understanding and interpreting the past. We endeavour to develop the children’s sense of identity through learning about the development of Britain, Europe and the World. We believe that a high-quality history education will aid in laying the foundations for developing transferrable skills that will prepare our children for the wider world. We recognise that all of our children have a wide range of knowledge, skills and understanding in history, and we seek to provide suitable learning opportunities by matching the challenge to the ability of the child.

Throughout every key stage we give children the opportunity to visit sites of historical significance. We also recognise that it is crucial for our children to engage in history at a personal level. Therefore, we teach history through sensory experiences such as re-enactments, drama/role play, the use of our museum and external visitors. We recognise the value of personal stories in history teaching and we regard this as an important way of stimulating interest in the past. We focus on helping children understand that historical events have been interpreted in different ways, and that they should always ask searching questions such as “How do we know this source is accurate?”, when confronted with information.

At Cookley Primary School we aim to:

• Stimulate interest and curiosity in our children.
• Help pupils understand how knowledge of the present is informed by the study of the past and provide historical knowledge.
• Help pupils develop a sense of identity by completing local history research and investigations of the challenges of their time and community.
• Help pupils relate this awareness of their own identity to the identities of people who share their humanity but whose characters have been shaped by different times and cultures - fostering positive attitudes and embracing diversity.
• To understand how Britain has influenced and been influenced in the context of the wider world.
• Develop and apply historical skills.
• Enrich learning in other areas of the curriculum.
• Prepare pupils for adult life.