Intent

At Staunton Primary School, our History curriculum aims to inspire pupils to become curious, reflective and analytical thinkers with a broad understanding of the past. We want children to think like historians, developing the confidence to question, investigate and interpret evidence, while exploring different perspectives to build informed views of events, people and societies.

Our curriculum is designed to develop pupils’ understanding of how history shapes identities, cultures and communities over time. Through this, we aim to foster pupils who are able to make sense of the present by understanding the past and who are equipped to become thoughtful, active citizens.

The curriculum ensures progression in key areas, including chronological knowledge, substantive concepts and disciplinary skills, enabling pupils to develop a secure and connected understanding of historical change over time.

Implementation

History is taught through a two‑year rolling programme, ensuring full coverage of the National Curriculum and clear progression across year groups. The subject is delivered for one hour per week, alternating with Geography each half‑term to allow sufficient time for depth of learning.

Our curriculum follows a spiral approach, where key knowledge and concepts are revisited and developed over time. Weekly flashback questions support retrieval practice, helping pupils to consolidate prior learning and make meaningful connections between topics.

Pupils develop:

• Chronological knowledge, including:
  • Understanding the order, scale and sequence of historical periods
• Disciplinary knowledge, including:
  • Historical enquiry
  • Interpretation of evidence
  • Asking and answering perceptive questions
• Substantive concepts, such as:
  • Invasion, settlement, rebellion, empire and monarchy

These elements provide pupils with a structured framework to analyse change, continuity and cause across time. Teaching includes a range of engaging strategies such as questioning, discussion, and interactive activities. Ongoing formative assessment is embedded within lessons, allowing teachers to assess understanding in real time and adapt their teaching to meet pupils’ needs.

Impact

The impact of our History curriculum is seen in pupils who:

• Demonstrate secure chronological understanding
• Use key historical vocabulary accurately
• Analyse and interpret evidence with increasing confidence
• Ask thoughtful and perceptive historical questions
• Understand how past events influence the present

Pupils are able to make connections across periods of history, showing an awareness of change and continuity over time. They develop the skills needed to think critically, reflect on different perspectives, and engage meaningfully with the world around them.

Impact is measured through pupil outcomes, formative assessment, work scrutiny and pupil voice, ensuring that all children make progress and achieve well in History.

Further information about History topics taught each half‑term can be found on the school website and is shared with parents through half‑termly topic webs.