History and geography are taught weekly. In Key Stage 1 a history or geography topic focus changes every half term, in Key Stage 2 a topic focus changes every main term (Autumn, Spring and Summer).

At West Haddon, we teach to the history curriculum which inspires our pupils to form a curiosity and fascination about Britain’s past and that of the wider world. History topics are informed by the National Curriculum and are sensitive to children’s interests as well as the context of the local area. Teaching is designed to develop knowledge and skills that are progressive and transferable throughout a child’s education and in later life.

 Our teaching provides all pupils with:

• knowledge and understanding about the history of Britain and how it has influenced and been influenced by the wider world;
• knowledge and understanding about significant aspects of the history of the wider world such as ancient civilisations and empires;
• an appreciation of connections, contrasts and trends over time, using appropriate historical terms;
• an understanding of methods of historical enquiry with pupils able to ask and respond to questions;
• an appreciation of changes in living memory and beyond living memory;
• knowledge of the lives of significant people of the past.

 In geography, we teach to the curriculum, inspiring our pupils to form a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people, as well as their place in it. Geography topics are informed by the National Curriculum and are sensitive to children’s interests as well as the context of the local area. Teaching is designed to develop knowledge and skills that are progressive and transferable throughout a child’s education and in later life.

Our teaching provides all pupils with:

• knowledge about diverse places and people;
• a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes;
• locational knowledge of the world’s countries, continents and oceans with exploration of human and physical characteristics;
• the ability to explore and identify similarities and differences of human and physical geography;
• relevant geographical vocabulary and understanding of these concepts;
• geographical skills, fieldwork and enquiry such as the use of maps and compasses.

We want children to enjoy and love learning about history and geography by gaining this knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork, WOW days and educational visits.