The Impact of the Gawber History Curriculum

By the time children leave Gawber Primary School, they will have acquired a chronological understanding of periods of history, ranging from the earliest times to the present day. They will know how people’s lives have shaped our nation and how Britain has been influenced by the wider world. Children will leave Gawber with a love and respect for the subject and will have an understanding of how history continues to impact the world that they live in today. They will understand the importance of knowing about the past so that they can use this knowledge to make a positive impact on the world.   

Gawber children know and understand significant aspects of the history of their local community, of Britain and of the wider world. They can discuss the nature of ancient civilisations (such as Ancient Egypt); the rise and fall of empires (such as the Roman Empire); characteristic features of past non-European societies (such as Ancient Maya); achievements and follies of mankind. Children continually explore and deepen their knowledge of abstract terms such as ‘empire’ and ‘settlement’.

Children at Gawber have a good knowledge of historical concepts such as similarity, difference and significance. They use this to make connections within the history curriculum and across other aspects of the Gawber curriculum. They draw contrasts, study some trends, ask historically-valid questions and create their own structured accounts when responding to our summative ‘big questions.’  

By the end of Key Stage 2, our children have a good understanding of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used to make historical claims, and distinguish how and why contrasting interpretations of the past have been constructed and how reliable these sources may be.

The History Curriculum at Gawber instils a love of the subject in our children, encouraging them to further their knowledge through their own independent research and reading. Children at Gawber begin their secondary education journey well prepared for the knowledge and challenges that Key Stage 3 will bring.

We are not makers of history. We are made by history. 

Martin Luther King Jr.