Planning for history and environmental education: The Head Teacher's Perspective

Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.

As a headteacher, I want my teachers to plan high quality learning experiences for children. By ensuring that lessons are vibrant and exciting, and that stimulate that ‘inbuilt curiosity', we make sure that children encounter deep learning that will remain with them in future years. I am delighted when teachers choose to use the environment to support learning. There is clear importance for children to experience at first hand the historical aspect of the world around them as it appeals to all learning styles and enables that ‘memorability' factor: "When it is well organised and responsive, pupils become more engaged and enthusiastic learners" (Learning Outside the Classroom 2006).

Often, the very best lessons come away from the use of printed materials and bland ‘investigations' and utilise highquality primary sources. What could be more authentic than experiencing something created by people living here in the past?