Primary H istory & G eography: coverage and progression

Primary History & Geography: coverage and progression The Treasure House, Beverley 22nd May 2014 9:30 – 4:00

Agenda

The core curriculum? • Is it En/Ma/Sci? (the DfE definition) • What are basic/transferable/cross curricular skills? • So what subjects form the framework of the Primary School curriculum? • Raising the profile

Ofsted: history for all, March2011 • …much that was good and outstanding • use of ICT much more evident …. and pupils take greater responsibility for their own learning. • generally taught well and the subject was well led. • Most pupils enjoyed well-planned lessons that extended their knowledge, challenged their thinking and enhanced their understanding. • Most pupils reached the end of Key Stage 2 with detailed knowledge derived from well-taught studies of individual topics. However, • some pupils found it difficult to place the historical episodes they had studied within any coherent, long-term narrative. They did not have an overview. ….so they found it difficult to link developments together. • ..many primary teachers lack adequate subject knowledge beyond the specific elements that they taught. The curriculum structure for primary schools was itself episodic and militated against pupils grasping such an overview. There is a pressing need for • better professional development • for the curriculum to provide overview as well as in-depth topics so that children grasp the coherent chronological framework for the separate periods and events that they study.

Ofsted geography 2011: learning to make a world of difference • pupils’ progress uneven across classes • more or less disappearing in 1 in 10 schools (often using themes) • primary teachers’ weak knowledge, lack of confidence in teaching • insufficient subject-specific training • limited use of topical events or geographical information systems • 50% were not using geography to support pupils role in their locality, their country or the wider world Feb 2011

…and best practice is where: • HTs acknowledge the value of geography • there is a subject action plan • subject-specific training is provided • the curriculum is monitored to ensure coverage and progression • CPD is offered through the Action Plan for Geography Feb 2011

…ofsted recommendations 2011 • Focus on core knowledge • Develop a sense of place • Identify subject content in a thematic approach • Ensure coverage • Provide support and professional development • Plan frequent fieldwork • Use new technology • Recognise responsibilities for the locality, country and the global community • Use networks to share ideas and expertise

History/Geography in your school • Join, use, share and disseminate Historical Association materials http://www.history.org.uk//index.php • …and the Geographical Association at http://www.geography.org.uk • Keep it current/relevant http://www.firstnews.co.uk/

NC Expectationsat KS1 Geography: My school/surroundings Weather and extreme climates Physical geography: continents, oceans, features Small area of the UK Small area of a non-European country History Changes in living memory Significant events beyond living memory Lives of significant individuals Significant events, people, places in the locality

NC Expectationsat KS2 Geography The local area A region of the UK A region of a European country A region within N/S America Physical Geography History Stone to Iron Age Britain Roman Empire and its impact on Britain Settlement by Anglo-Saxons and Scots Viking & Anglo-Saxon to 1066 Local history study An aspect/theme over time Earliest civilizations Ancient Greece A non-European society (contrast)

Geography: resources to support the curriculum ……. Ref. Geography Association publications table (linked to the Key Stage expectations of the new curriculum)

Resources www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips Bringing the curriculum to life – when first hand experience is more difficult! What’s out there?

School library service - what's available Kevin Cooper, Schools Library Service

‘Down the line’: research based on LongitudeAnn Walker

Coffee 11:00 – 11:15

Museums Service developments - using artefacts and sites in the East Riding Sarah Hammond, Treasure House Education Officer

LUNCH – 12:30 – 13:30

Planning a unit of work for history or geographyAnn Walker, Schools Library Service Manager

Coffee 14:30 – 14:45

Progression in history and geography from Year 1 to Year 6 • ISSUE: that only the ‘core’ subjects address the issue of progression beyond that defined at KS1/KS2 • How can we ensure that skills and understanding are developing from Year 1 to Year 6?

Subject aims: -essential for guiding the development of skills/understanding alongside knowledge

Ensuring progression in planning • Reflect on the subject aims for your subject • Explore the (draft) models presented for progression in geography and history • Discuss and amend the models based on your knowledge/experience • Reflect on the unit plan completed in the last session, the age/year group it was intended for and suggest where changes/additions are needed

Plenary • Completion of evaluations • What needs to be done next in your school?

Primary H istory & G eography: coverage and progression