History

"History is for human self-knowledge ... the only clue to what man can do is what man has done. The value of history, then, is that it teaches us what man has done and thus what man is."  - R.G. Collingwood

Intent:

History fires children's curiosity about the past; the world in which they are living and how it has been shaped by the people and events before them. As they study History, children will develop a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people; what previous societies were like; and how their beliefs and values influenced their lives. They will see the diversity of the human experience and come to understand more about themselves as individuals and as part of a wider society.

The vision of our History curriculum is to afford the children the opportunity to question, debate and reflect upon matters that have occurred and to build on knowledge acquired in order to evaluate how past events have shaped the present. Different perspectives and viewpoints are essential. Such understanding promotes questioning in other areas of the curriculum and in life.

Through work in History, we aim to:

• Stimulate children's natural sense of inquisitiveness and enquiry.
• Create responsible, active citizens who contribute positively to society.
• Encourage children to develop an interest in the past, so that they will come to realise the importance of the past in the construction of a modern society.
• Give the children access to wide variety of primary and secondary sources.
• Provide children with as much experience as possible of historical artefacts and sites in order to learn to interpret and evaluate evidence.
• Relate History to other subject areas, and in doing so, foster a wider perspective about why things occur.

Essential Knowledge: 

Cohesion Strategy: 

Coherence is strengthened through our five essentials: Acquisition & Retention of Knowledge (recall underpins progress), Enriching Experiences (trips, expert-led workshops), Independence (independent work), Oracy (through talk, explanation and debate) and Understanding ('Golden Threads' and sequencing within the subject across all year groups and in History Across the Curriculum). Our curriculum ensures all pupils develop both competence and confidence in History, fostering a love of learning that endures beyond the classroom.

Implementation:

History invites our pupils into a world of awe, curiosity and discovery. Our lessons draw meaningful links across different eras so that children develop a secure understanding of themes, patterns and events that connect over time. By exploring the defining features of each civilisation or topic, pupils gain a rich, multi-layered awareness of the past and grow increasingly confident in their own independent thinking.

Enrichment plays a central role in fostering a lasting passion for History. Workshops, museum visits and trips to historical sites bring learning to life, helping pupils build a genuine appreciation for the wider world. Through these experiences, they learn to form opinions, test theories and articulate ideas with confidence—challenging themselves and one another in thoughtful, constructive ways. They come to understand how past events have shaped the world they know today, and how their impact continues to resonate.

From Year 3 to Year 6, our History curriculum is intentionally woven through a range of subjects. Pupils read and evaluate sources, engage in extended writing about significant events, use mathematical skills to sequence timelines, and express their understanding creatively through art. This cross-curricular approach deepens learning and shows children that History is not separate from life—it is something we all share.

We believe that everyone is part of History, and everyone has a meaningful role within it. This ethos of inclusion shapes how History is taught, making the curriculum accessible, engaging and relevant for every learner.

Impact:

We use a range of strategies to measure the impact of our intent and implementation so that planning can be refined and adapted. This monitoring cycle ensures our lessons remain challenging, engaging, and responsive to pupils’ needs.

Termly book monitoring by the subject lead checks that the Assessment Policy is consistently applied across all year groups. Yearly lesson observations further evaluate how effectively key questioning, challenge mindset, and our Formative Assessment Policy are embedded in classroom practice.

Pupils complete summative Mastermind assessments at the start and end of each year. These tests are created by staff to reflect the specific content and themes of our curriculum, providing clear measures of progress and opportunities for diagnostic insight.

One of our most valuable quality-assurance tools is the annual pupil interview process. These conversations help us understand how pupils build ‘golden threads’ of knowledge across topics and highlight which lessons have sparked curiosity and why.

Finally, yearly Teacher Voice surveys support the continuous improvement of our curriculum by giving staff the opportunity to offer honest feedback and contribute ideas that strengthen the quality of teaching across the school.

Impact Presentation

This presentation shows the standards and progress of pupils from Y3 to Y6 via our identified 'Golden Thread' of Significant Figures throughout History.