‘The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future’ – Theodore Roosevelt
At Ringway Primary School, we aim to inspire a curiosity in children to want to know more about the past and its impact on the world today. Through their enquiry into history, children will gain knowledge of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. This will then help them to understand and respect diversity of cultures, the importance of equality, the process of change and continuity and to begin to analyse how events of the past have helped to mould their lives today.
Our school is situated in the North East of England, an area filled with a rich and varied history. We believe it is important for children to develop a strong sense of appreciation and knowledge of their local area. As a result, we spend time considering various aspects of North East history throughout all year groups. In upper key stage two, children are encouraged to creatively research and create a project based on an area of local history that has inspired them. By allowing children to take ownership of their learning, we help to improve their self-belief while giving them opportunities to explore what they are passionate about.
We strive for excellence by encouraging children to become historians. We do this by helping them learn how to ask perceptive questions, think critically and weigh evidence. By understanding that knowledge of past events has been made through historical interpretation of sources, children are then able to develop perspective and judgement. Opportunities are provided within their work to improve their skills of teamwork and collaboration. We also encourage children to persevere as they embrace challenging activities. We believe these key skills will not only help children in their study of history, but also throughout their lives.