Our Historical ambition
History is a part of us all! It shapes who we are, and every family, building, village, town or city has its own story to tell. At Mill Lane we are excited by history and aim to make all aspects of history exciting and engaging by bringing the past to life in interesting and unique ways. We want every child to learn to think like a historian!
We make full use of resources within the immediate and wider local area, enabling children to develop a deep understanding of the history of their locality. Within our History curriculum, children develop their curiosity of the past by examining sources through child led enquiry and independent research. Topics are informed by the National Curriculum and are sensitive to children’s interests. We aim to ensure that all pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world which helps to stimulate pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. We aim to encourage children to ask questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments and develop perspective and judgement.
What does History look like at Mill Lane?
At Mill Lane, History is taught through topics and experiences, and teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each topic. Consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group across the school. We aim to make our investigation of History as hands-on as possible, utilising local trips and resources as best we can. We use a wide selection of books, visits, experiences and artefacts to inspire the children’s learning. Whether it's a visit from a medieval knight, a World War Two evacuation on a steam train, an archaeological dig on the school field or a trip to Oxford Castle we aim to make history engaging and memorable.
Our intention is that children will understand and use the key skills of chronological understanding, knowledge and understanding of events in the past, historical interpretation, historical enquiry and organisation and communication. We hope that children will have enjoyed learning about history and will have learnt to use a wide range of sources to gather evidence.
Children have the opportunity to discuss moral questions, or what is right and wrong, for example when focusing on significant people in history. The study of artefacts, buildings, churches etc. gives children a sense of their place in the historical scheme of things. Moral issues can be considered. For example, was it right that war was fought or that children were forced to work in factories and mines in Victorian Britain, or that Anne Frank was forced into hiding? Studying the cultures of other times – Egyptians, Romans etc. builds an awareness of the value and importance of other societies and cultures and the relative value and importance of our own. It also stresses the interdependence of cultures. The history teaching enables children to understand that Britain’s rich cultural heritage can be further enriched by the multi-cultural British society of today.
