Ofsted conducted a subject inspection at Maidstone, St John’s Church of England Primary School on December 5, 2019, to evaluate the quality of education in history. The inspection confirmed that the school maintains its outstanding overall effectiveness rating from the previous section 5 inspection. The purpose of this inspection was to gain insights into the specific subjects taught in outstanding primary schools, particularly focusing on the history curriculum.
The school has recently undertaken a review of its curriculum provision, with leaders and teachers working to implement a revised history curriculum that effectively sequences knowledge across different topics and year groups. This initiative has led to improvements in the history education provided to pupils. The subject leader for history has been instrumental in embedding the new curriculum plans, ensuring that teachers have a clear understanding of the learning objectives for their students.
Teachers at the school demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching history, showcasing their passion and robust subject knowledge. They have embraced the new curriculum and provide pupils with challenging activities, maintaining high expectations for all learners. In the early years, pupils are introduced to the concept of the past, laying a solid foundation for their future studies in history. The expert teaching in these early years effectively enhances children’s understanding of historical concepts, preparing them well for key stage 1.
Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive appropriate support in history lessons. Staff are skilled in helping these pupils access information and engage in activities, ensuring that the curriculum remains ambitious for all learners. Pupils with education, health, and care plans are actively involved in discussions about their participation in activities and their learning development.
Teachers design varied and demanding opportunities that encourage pupils to think critically about historical events and enhance their use of subject-specific vocabulary through extended writing tasks. For instance, Year 2 pupils created pamphlets about the Fire of London, detailing how the fire started and its rapid spread. Similarly, Year 5 pupils wrote about Anglo-Saxon jewellery, explaining how different types of jewellery indicated the wearer's social status.
The history curriculum encompasses a wide range of significant events, figures, and eras. Leaders have outlined the essential factual knowledge that pupils should acquire by the end of each topic. However, the curriculum currently lacks a framework that helps pupils connect historical events and eras, which is crucial for developing a comprehensive understanding of changes over time. As a result, pupils may not fully grasp how historical concepts, such as monarchy and democracy, have evolved throughout the periods they study.
During the inspection, the inspector met with the headteacher, deputy headteacher, early years leader, subject leader for history, and several teachers to discuss the history curriculum. The inspector also observed lessons in the early years, Year 4, and Year 5, engaged with groups of pupils about their history learning, evaluated pupils' work, and scrutinized curriculum planning.
Maidstone, St John’s Church of England Primary School is an above-average-sized primary school with 438 pupils enrolled. The majority of pupils are White British, and the proportion of those who speak English as an additional language is below the national average. The school has a lower-than-average percentage of disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs. Most pupils join the school at the beginning of the early years and continue until the end of Year 6, contributing to a stable staffing environment. The findings from this inspection highlight the school’s commitment to providing a high-quality history education while identifying areas for further development.
