Shaftesbury Abbey School
Subject Leaders A.Saunders and L. Jones
Intent Statement for Humanities
At The Abbey Primary School, we aim to develop curious, knowledgeable and confident historians and geographers who understand the world around them, appreciate how it has changed over time and recognise their place within it.
Through carefully sequenced and progressive Kapow Geography and History curriculum, children develop a secure understanding of significant people, events, places, environments and processes. Our curriculum builds knowledge over time, enabling pupils to revisit, connect and deepen their understanding as they move through the school.
Geography
In Geography, we develop children's understanding of places, people, environments and the physical and human processes that shape our world. Pupils explore their local area alongside the wider United Kingdom and the world, making meaningful connections between their own experiences and different places and cultures.
Children develop a strong bank of geographical vocabulary and knowledge, alongside essential geographical skills. They learn to use maps, atlases and globes, interpret data, undertake fieldwork, observe their surroundings and ask and answer geographical questions.
We encourage pupils to understand the relationship between people and the environment and to consider issues such as sustainability, climate and environmental change. Local fieldwork and practical experiences provide opportunities for children to apply their knowledge in meaningful contexts.
History
In History, we aim to develop children's understanding of the past and how it has shaped the world in which we live today. Through a carefully sequenced chronology, pupils explore significant periods, events and people from local, British and wider world history.
Children develop their chronological understanding, historical vocabulary and knowledge of significant events and individuals. They learn to investigate the past by asking questions, examining evidence and considering different interpretations and perspectives.
Through the Kapow curriculum, pupils are encouraged to understand cause and consequence, change and continuity, similarity and difference and historical significance. They develop the skills needed to interpret a range of historical sources and to recognise that our understanding of the past is based on evidence.
Our local area provides opportunities for children to investigate local history and its connections to national and global events, helping pupils to understand that history is not simply a collection of facts but a story that connects people, places and events.
Our Ambition
Across both subjects, we want children to become independent thinkers and enquiring learners who are able to ask questions, investigate evidence, make connections and communicate what they have learned.
We ensure that knowledge and skills are progressively developed and regularly revisited, enabling children to remember more and understand more over time. Vocabulary is explicitly taught and reinforced so that pupils can confidently articulate their geographical and historical understanding.
By the end of Key Stage 2, we want every child to have developed a secure foundation of knowledge, vocabulary and disciplinary skills in Geography and History, together with a curiosity about the world and its past.
Ultimately, we want our pupils to leave our school as inquisitive, respectful and knowledgeable young people, able to understand where they have come from, appreciate the diversity of the world around them and confidently ask questions about the world they are part of.