Meet Miss Blackett: Subject lead for History
Hello! I’m Miss Blackett and I am excited to be leading History at Bardfield Academy.
Why I love History
I am deeply passionate about History because it allows us to uncover the hidden stories and diverse voices that have shaped our global identity. I believe that by understanding where we’ve been, our children gain the empathy and perspective needed to navigate the complexities of the present.
My ambition for our school
My ambition is that all children at Bardfield will:
- Becoming Historical Detectives, We don’t just teach facts; we teach the art of inquiry. From the earliest years, pupils learn to interrogate evidence—from Roman pottery to diary entries for World War 1 and 2—understanding that history is a narrative built from fragments of the past.
- Building a Chronological Map Our curriculum is designed to help children build a robust mental “timeline.” By connecting the dots between the Stone Age, Ancient civilisations, and the Victorian times, pupils develop an appreciation for the long-term cause and effect that shapes societies.
- Empathy and Global Citizenship Through the study of diverse civilizations and significant individuals, we foster a deep sense of empathy. We explore the complexities of human experience, celebrating achievements and critically examining the injustices of the past to help our pupils become informed, compassionate citizens.
My ambition is for every student to become a curious investigator who feels empowered to use the lessons of the past to build a more thoughtful future
Miss Blackett- History lead
Our History Curriculum
At Bardfield Academy, we believe that history lessons should inspire curiosity and help our pupils understand the lives of people from the past. (Exploring yesterday to understand today). By learning about history, we aim for our pupils to build a sense of time and history, helping them understand where they come from and the world around them. This knowledge helps them appreciate their own culture, as well as others, in our diverse society.
Our history curriculum is designed to give pupils a deeper understanding of British values and how Britain became a democratic society. We also teach them how past events have shaped and influenced the world they live in today. Along the way, they will develop important skills including asking questions, analysing information, understanding different viewpoints and making connections and comparisons.
In History lessons, we focus on enabling pupils so they know how historians think, giving them the opportunity to use historical resources e.g. historical artefacts, pictorial and written sources, buildings and people. This includes allowing them opportunities to question historical resources they use and consider other viewpoints and the reliability of different historical sources. Where possible and appropriate, we give pupils the opportunity to visit sites of historical significance. We focus on helping pupils understand that historical events can be interpreted in different ways and that they should always ask searching questions, such as ‘how do we know?’, about information they are given. We also encourage visitors to come into the school and talk about their own experiences of events from the past.
Alongside this, cross curricular links are clear as we recognize and value the importance of reading and listening to stories in history teaching. Teachers regard this as an important way of sparking interest, making links with English texts and using Now Press Play as a resource to immerse pupils actively in different periods from History.
