History

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History 

History at Southwater Junior Academy is centred around our skills based curriculum and developing a real passion for the subject.  We hope that by drawing links between people and events from the past to our present day, children will gain a better understanding of our own country, its institutions and culture as well as that of the world around us.  As an academy we have grasped the opportunity to go beyond the suggested curriculum to develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of events in history.  We wish for our curriculum to be extraordinary to challenge and engage the pupils we educate.  In particular, we focus on key events which have shaped the institutions and culture of Britain today.

During their time at Southwater Junior Academy, the children have opportunities to study the Ancient Greeks, the Ancient Egyptians, the Romans in Britain, the Anglo-Saxons, the Stuarts, World War II and Post-War Britain.  By studying these key turning points in British and world history we are able to draw out the clear links from the past to our present day.  We strongly believe that if we do not know our past, how can we recognise what we are today and our way forward in the future?
Children also develop their analytical skills within the subject as they progress through the school.  They spend time learning how and where to find information about different periods in history to build their independent research skills.  As they progress through the school they move on to questioning the sources of information and their authenticity.  

Trips and visits to inspire

At Southwater Junior Academy we plan an exciting and engaging curriculum which is based around making the subject directly relevant to children’s lives today.  Each topic presents an opportunity to visit or welcome experts to the school, who augment the children’s understanding of the past.  These opportunities include visits to Preston Manor as part of the Year 3 Victorian topic and Hampton Court for the Year 4 study into the Tudors and Stuarts. Visitors to the school also enhance the children’s understanding of World War II and Post-War Britain.  The local community, in addition to historical experts, are eager to share their personal experiences to aid the children’s understanding of more recent history.