This project, looking at the teaching of the classical elements of KS2 history, came to a close with the publication of a report in June 1999 (copies available from the CSCP office).

The research provided plentiful evidence to show that the Greeks and Romans were popular study units with children, teachers and parents. It was encouraging that they were in fact retained in the revised National Curriculum. The report’s main recommendations are:

1 History should be retained in the revised primary curriculum.

2 The classical study units should be retained within key stage 2 history.

3 The revised national curriculum should give teachers the flexibility to choose the focus of study within the Ancient Greece and Romans in Britain study units.

4 The national literacy strategy should take greater account of how to support children’s writing beyond the literacy hour and within the broader curriculum.

5 Continuing professional development should be provided to support the promotion of literacy, numeracy and ICT within curriculum areas such as history.

6 Teachers should be helped to continue improvements in history education, building on gains made through the national curriculum.

7 More pupils should be offered access to ‘hands-on’ learning in history.

8 More detailed research should be undertaken into young children’s understanding of history.

9 Urgent priority should be given to providing all pupils with frequent access to computers and the internet in school.

10 Close consideration should be given to the practicalities of developing the national grid for learning to meet the subject-specific needs of primary teachers.

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