History

Intent

History is the study of past and present civilisations and people. At Great Missenden, we believe that the children should develop a sense of identity and a cultural understanding based on historical heritage. History at Great Missenden is concerned with stimulating the children’s interest and understanding about the life of people who lived in the past and are living in the present. Within Great Missenden School, history plays an important part of teaching the children to understand how events in the past have influenced our lives today; we also teach the children to investigate these past events and, by so doing, develop the skills of enquiry, analysis, interpretation and problem solving.

We intend to discover more about the local history of Great Missenden as it is an opportunity for the children today to feel a part of the communities surrounding the school over time. Many of us, including the teachers, did not start out in this area, but by learning and becoming immersed in the local history of Great Missenden, the children feel a sense of belonging and respect for our village and the wider community.

Implementation

At Great Missenden School our intention is to continuously strive for quality teaching and learning of history. There is many opportunities for children to extend their learning in and out of the classroom through enquiry based learning. This is delivered through:

Impact

To truly understand the impact of our History curriculum, you have to come and see us!

To measure the impact, we have clear end points identified using termly assessment statements. Staff are aware of the expectations of all children. We use formative assessment in every History lesson. Using historical language and ensuring how children then use this historical language indicates historical skills as well as knowledge. Cumulative quizzing at the start of every lesson based on their previous learning is an essential way of judging understanding and development in history.  This information collected in each lesson, is used to inform the teacher’s short-term planning and allows the children to revisit their previous learning before moving on to explore new concepts.

 At the start of each topic, each year group organises a ‘hook day’ which inspires the children to want to learn more, whilst providing an expectation of what they will be learning. Within this day, the children complete a cold task for the teacher to assess their prior learning. Before the topic is concluded with a ‘celebration day’ and a hot task to celebrate all of their achievements and learning throughout the topic.  This also allows both the teacher and children to see just what they have learnt by the end of the term; thus the students play an active part in their learning journey, not just receivers of facts.

Every topic in history at Great Missenden allows children to explore the impact of the past through a variety styles, such as: creative lessons, fact gathering lessons and research lessons. Combined together, they give all children an opportunity to develop their knowledge further.

History is a chance for the children to enjoy learning about the past and thinking about what impact that has on our lives and the world around them now. For the pupils of Great Missenden to be HISTORIANS, they have to feel like they can take ownership of history and that’s what we support them to do.

Links to the school vision and values

Pupil Voice Impact Analysis

Year 1: "History is all about things like the dinosaurs and world war and other things that have happened in the past."

Year 2: 'I love learning about History, it is so fun and I get to learn all about what has happened in the world.'

Year 3: " In History, I enjoy learning about the past. It is really interesting to find out more about what has impacted us today."

Year 4: "I loved learning about the Victorians, we had a great lesson where we pretended we were Victorian children."

Year 5: " I liked learning about Black History Month because we can reflect on those people who weren’t treated fairly and learn more about the difference they have made."

Year 6: “I find History really interesting. We learn about how different life was in the past."

History at Great Missenden allows children to explore the past to look at the present. They leave ready to explore the impact that has been made on the world around them and how they can strive to make a positive impact for the future.

Black History Month - October 2025

During the last two weeks of October, all of Great Missenden took part in our Black History Month celebrations. The children explored the lives and achievements of influential Black figures throughout history, learning why their stories continue to inspire people today.

EYFS – Marcus Rashford

EYFS learned about Marcus Rashford, not only a successful footballer but also an advocate for children and families. The children explored how he used his voice to help others and why kindness and fairness matter.

Year 1 – Rosa Parks

Year 1 focused on Rosa Parks, who became an icon of the civil rights movement when she refused to give up her seat on a bus. The children talked about her bravery and why her peaceful stand helped bring about important changes.

Year 2 – Martin Luther King Jr.

Year 2 looked at the life of Martin Luther King Jr., discussing his famous “I have a dream” speech and sharing their own dreams for a fairer future. They learned how he inspired millions through his hope, courage and belief in equality.

Year 3 – Nelson Mandela

Year 3 explored the life of Nelson Mandela, discussing his heroic actions and analysing some of his most powerful quotes about apartheid and justice in South Africa. One student was even inspired to write a newspaper article about him as part of their English work.

Year 4 – Aretha Franklin

Year 4 learned about Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul,” who used her powerful voice both in music and in support of civil rights. The children discovered how her talent and determination made her a global icon.

Year 5 – Mae Jemison

Year 5 focused on Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel into space. They explored the challenges she overcame and how her achievements opened doors for future scientists and explorers. The children created thoughtful “I am” poems inspired by her life.

Year 6 – Malcolm X and Black Lives Matter

Year 6 studied Malcolm X, discussing his influential role in the civil rights movement and his message of empowerment and equality. They also explored the recent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd. The class engaged in a mature conversation about racial inequality, the complexities around the movement, and what we can all do to make society fairer. They then wrote their own speeches reflecting on these themes.

During the 2022–2023 academic year, we celebrated our brilliant school’s 200th anniversary!

In September 2022, we held a special celebratory assembly where we took a trip down memory lane and explored what school life has been like over the past two centuries. Former pupils joined us to share their experiences, and we enjoyed hearing additional testimonials from other past students.

It was a wonderful occasion that allowed us to journey through our school’s rich history. Throughout the rest of the academic year, we continued marking this milestone with a range of exciting events to ensure our big birthday was celebrated in style.