History

At our school, History helps children develop a fascination about the past and how it has shaped the world we live in today. We want pupils to become curious, reflective and enquiring historians who can ask thoughtful questions, explore evidence and understand how lives, communities and societies have changed over time. Through rich stories, meaningful sources and discussion, children build a secure understanding of chronology, key events and significant people, and learn to think critically about different perspectives.

Our approach

We teach History through a carefully sequenced curriculum that builds knowledge and skills progressively. Lessons are designed to help pupils:

• Develop a secure sense of chronology, understanding where events and periods fit on a timeline
• Ask and answer historical questions, using evidence to explain change, cause and consequence
• Use a range of sources (artefacts, images, documents and accounts) to investigate the past
• Understand different perspectives, recognising that people’s experiences and interpretations can vary
• Build historical vocabulary, enabling pupils to talk confidently about periods, concepts and events

Kapow Primary: our chosen scheme

To ensure clear progression, consistent coverage and engaging learning experiences across the school, we follow Kapow Primary’s History scheme of work. This supports teachers with well-structured units that develop both substantive knowledge (what children learn about the past) and disciplinary knowledge (how historians investigate and interpret history). The scheme helps us provide:

• A coherent sequence of learning from Early Years to Year 6
• Enquiry-led units that encourage children to investigate, debate and draw conclusions
• High-quality resources and sources, helping pupils learn how we know about the past
• Strong vocabulary and concept development, including change, continuity, similarity and difference

How children learn in History

History learning is active, discussion-rich and built around enquiry. Children are encouraged to think like historians by exploring questions such as What changed? Why did it change? Who benefited? Learning often includes:

• Timelines and chronological thinking, linking periods and understanding ‘before and after’
• Source work, using objects, photographs, accounts and evidence to make inferences
• Story and significance, learning about important individuals and events and why they matter
• Comparison, exploring similarities and differences across time and between societies
• Explaining and justifying, using evidence and vocabulary to form reasoned conclusions

Inclusion, curiosity and critical thinking

We want every child to feel successful in History. Lessons are planned to be inclusive and accessible, with carefully chosen texts, visuals and vocabulary support, alongside opportunities for deeper thinking and challenge. Above all, we aim to nurture curiosity, empathy and critical thinking, helping children understand the past and make meaningful connections to the present.