History at our School

At our school, History is a rich and meaningful part of our broad and balanced curriculum. From Early Years through to Year 6, children are encouraged to explore the past with curiosity, imagination and a growing sense of identity. Through stories, artefacts, enquiry and discussion, pupils begin to understand how people and events have shaped the world they live in today.

In the Early Years, children begin by exploring their own personal histories and building an early understanding of chronology. They look at how they have grown and changed, and then widen their focus to explore how toys have changed within living memory. Through hands‑on exploration and storytelling, children start to understand the idea of “past and present” and develop respectful awareness of the different lives people have lived.

In Key Stage 1, pupils extend their historical understanding by studying significant events and changes beyond their own experience. They learn about the Great Fire of London, exploring how the event unfolded and how it transformed the city and established rules are regulations about fire safety that are still relevant to life today. Children also study changes in transport, including space travel, comparing past and present and discovering how developments in travel have shaped everyday life. These studies help pupils build empathy, recognise innovation and understand how people adapt and respond to challenge.

In Key Stage 2, children deepen their knowledge and develop greater confidence in using historical enquiry skills. In Years 3 and 4, pupils explore the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt, uncovering the achievements, beliefs and day‑to‑day lives of this complex civilisation. Alongside this, they investigate life in Early Britain, learning how communities lived, worked and developed from the Stone Age onwards. This helps children compare different periods and appreciate continuity and change over long spans of time.

By Years 5 and 6, pupils broaden their understanding further as they investigate more complex periods of history. They explore how the Industrial Revolution transformed Britain, discovering the profound impact it had on work, technology and society. They also study Tudor exploration, learning how explorers expanded global knowledge and how their journeys shaped future connections between countries and cultures. These topics support pupils in thinking critically about cause, consequence, diversity and interpretation.

Across all stages, History encourages children to ask thoughtful questions, analyse evidence and understand the complexity of human stories. Through engaging lessons, artefact handling, drama, research and discussion, we aim to inspire a lifelong curiosity about the past and support every child in becoming a reflective, informed and compassionate learner.