History

History Statement of Intent

At St. Leonard's, a high-quality history education will enable children to gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. We aim to use our local historical resources and landmarks as a way of teaching children about significant historical events and the affect they had upon our local area that still affect us today. We aim for a high-quality curriculum which will inspire children to find out facts, not just about their local and British history, but also the wider world. They will learn about ancient civilisations, changes in living memory and beyond, and about significant people in the past. Children will learn through their developing enquiry and investigative skills, as well as visiting local places of interest on educational field trips. 

Our History Curriculum

Tamworth is an area rich in local and regional history. The area has been influenced and changed through many different settlements over the years including the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons and the Tudors. Tamworth was once the capital of the Mercian Kingdom, led by King Offa and later by Aethelflaed, the Queen of Mercia. At the heart of our town lies Tamworth Castle which is a site of much pride in Tamworth. 

Our curriculum is built upon the history of our local area, as well as that of the wider country and world. We have two local studies, looking at the influence that the Tudors, Anglo-Saxons and the Romans had on Tamworth. We look at the role Tamworth had as the capital of the Kingdom of Mercia in the Saxon times and do a study of Aethelflaed, the Queen of Mercia.

Historical Skills

Planning for the teaching of history in our school is approached in two ways: substantive knowledge and disciplinary knowledge. As children progress through the school, they will develop a greater understanding of historical and disciplinary knowledge and how historians make interpretations, build connections, draw contrasts and analyse trends.

History Priorities for 2025-2026

This year in History the key areas for development are:

• To review and ensure that the history curriculum is diverse and reflective of the identity of our school.
• To ensure the new subject leader has the knowledge, skills and understanding to be able to carry out the role effectively.
• To review the assessment of history to ensure that it’s robust and accurate.
• To continue to develop children’s understanding of chronology.

If you have any History related questions please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Cooke, who leads (and loves!) History in our school.

office@st-leonards-wigginton.staffs.sch.uk

Do you want to delve into history at home?

Below are some activities you could try to support your child's interest in the subject:

• Visit Historical Sites: Take trips to local museums, castles, or historic houses to bring history to life. We have quite a few in Tamworth and in nearby Lichfield. Have a look at the following link to find different historical places to visit in Staffordshire: Visit Staffordshire (historical sites)
• Use Engaging Resources: Read historical fiction books, picture books, and engaging, age-appropriate TV programs.
• Create Timelines: Help children visualise the sequence of events by creating a timeline to add to as they learn.
• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage deeper thinking by asking, "Why do you think that happened?" or "What does this tell us about the past?".
• Explore Local History: Investigate your local area, such as finding old buildings or looking at historical maps of your neighborhood. Nearby we have Tamworth Castle and the Roman site at Wall. 
• Talk to family members: What do they remember? What happened when they were younger? Maybe you could do an interview where you ask them questions?
• Create a Family Tree: Delve into the past by studying the members of your family. See how far back you can go!
• Model Making: Create models of historical artefacts and buildings/ 
• Cooking: Try making food from a historical period.
• BBC Bitesize: This website has lots of fun videos to watch to learn about different periods of history: BBC Bitesize History