Principles for Approaching Welsh History 

1. Develop your own professional knowledge.

First and foremost, think about developing your own professional knowledge. There are so many fantastic books available which provide a brief history of Wales. Make sure that you develop an understanding of the chronology of Welsh History as, ultimately, this is what we want for our children. 

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2. Think about the key concepts and histories which you would like to communicate.

Ideally, as noted in the curriculum for Wales guidance, this should be undertaken whilst working as a cluster. If our aspiration is to develop a spiral curriculum where children build on their knowledge and skills years on year, then this is imperative. However, I know that not many clusters have the political will to achieve this. 

In your own setting, be it primary or secondary, think carefully about the key historical concepts which you would like to communicate. History is about story telling and recognising how society has change and what we can learn from it. Inevitably some topic are going to be more appropriate for older children than younger children so this also needs to be considered. 

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3. Consider your local area. 

If your school is located in an area with significant links to an important industry or event then it is imperative that this is a part of your curriculum. For example, if your school is located in an area of heavy industry, then curriculum development should link to these areas. 

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4. Make the learning exciting! 

Children love history. History lends itself to creative and exciting lessons. Support your children to develop a love of our wonderful culture and heritage.