History
The study of our past should fire up the curiosity and imagination of pupils and prompt discussion about how lessons from the past could inform our shared future.
Through teaching rich historical persepctives our students develop a good chronological overview, enabling them to make connections within and across different periods and societies. Students are encouraged to evaluate significant historical events and decisions made by leaders and governments.
Students learn to appreciate that interpretations of events reflect the circumstances in which they took place, and the intentions of those who made them. Many lessons will involve a range of different type of enquiry questions, which will support students to develop conceptual thinking. Students will also be taught about the connections between causes and consequences of historical events.
History lessons are taught using multi-sensory methods and a transdisciplinary approach. For example, a Speech and Language Therapist may work on memory strategies to help students remember new vocabulary, dates or names. Alternatively, an Occupational Therapist may give support with sequencing or mapping skills.
Lessons include a wide range of topics at personal, local, national and international levels, dating from the early Stone Age period to historical events in the late 20th century.
History and geography work with SALT [speech and language therapists] on memory strategies to help learn new vocabulary or dates. One former pupil reported… [they] learned about ancient Egyptians through the medium of brightly coloured pottery.
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School trips are frequently arranged to support the curriculum, including visits to museums and historical sites to truly bring the topics to life.
We welcome speakers in to talk to our students about their topics of interest, and organise history days where we make history come to life in a multi-sensory way including costumes, food and items from different historical periods.
Students within Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 can also attend external history lectures offered by experts in their field. We are truly blessed to have so much history and historical scholars on our doorstep in Central London and we take full advantage of this privileged access.
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