"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots."

We firmly believe in laying a foundation of robust historical knowledge for our pupils, viewing a knowledge-rich curriculum as the cornerstone of informed and thoughtful citizenship. Delving into the past provides our pupils with the context to comprehend the present and shape the future, fostering a sense of identity and cultural heritage. Understanding history allows our young learners to discern patterns, appreciate different perspectives, and develop critical thinking skills. Through our carefully crafted history curriculum, we aim to instil not only facts and dates but also a lifelong curiosity and appreciation for the stories that have shaped our world.

The curriculum is coherently planned and sequenced towards cumulatively providing the necessary knowledge and skills for pupils’ future to empower them to take their role as informed and active citizens in the 21st century. Its emphasis is not just on historical knowledge but also skills and concepts. It has the same challenging academic ambitions for all pupils. They all work from a shared starting point to answer the same key questions. The content provides pupils with a clear understanding of how people lived in the past and what they believed to be important. Engaging with challenging themes will enable pupils to connect with what is happening in the world around them. It will enable them to engage in debate about what is happening today and use the past to inform those opinions.

Our specialist team of history teachers deliver content weekly throughout the year. It is critical that pupils engage with our units of work in great detail and depth, often making interdisciplinary links to subjects such as reading and writing. It is for this reason we do not block units or limit teaching to half-terms.

The impact of our ambitious history curriculum is evidenced through the pupils’ use and understanding of knowledge, skills, concepts and specialist vocabulary. This is evidenced by the use and outcomes of the varied activities, assessments, double-page spreads and quizzes provided. The broad range of approaches for pupils to apply and communicate their knowledge ensures that everyone can demonstrate progression and impact. In particular, it is evidenced by the pupils’ ability, willingness and confidence in addressing and discussing each unit’s key question, giving a response focusing on historical vocabulary, skills and concepts.