Intent

At Starcross Primary School, we want all pupils, regardless of need or barrier, to develop a passion for learning about the past and an understanding of how history has shaped the world they live in today. We aim to inspire curiosity and fascination about people, events and societies, from their own local history and community to significant periods and civilizations across Britain and the wider world.

We endeavour to help children understand how life has changed over time, recognise similarities and differences between different periods, and develop a strong sense of chronology. Through our History curriculum, we strive to build pupils’ knowledge, understanding and historical skills, enabling them to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, and develop their own viewpoints.

We value learning beyond the classroom and provide opportunities through visits, visitors, local studies and themed days to bring history to life. By using rich historical vocabulary and building on prior knowledge through a progressive curriculum, we aim to develop young historians who are curious, reflective, confident and motivated to find out more about the past.

Implementation

At Starcross Primary School, History is taught through project-based learning throughout the year, as well as focused weeks, allowing children to gain depth in their understanding and progressively build historical knowledge and skills.

In EYFS, History is part of “Understanding the World,” where children explore the concept of past and present through stories, discussions about their own lives, significant people, and changes within living memory.

In KS1, children develop an awareness of the past by learning about events and people within and beyond living memory, significant historical figures, and changes over time. They begin to use simple timelines, historical vocabulary, and sources such as photographs, stories and artefacts to support their understanding.

In KS2, children extend their chronological knowledge and study a range of periods including British history, local history and ancient civilizations. They develop a deeper understanding of historical concepts such as cause and consequence, similarity and difference, continuity and change, and historical significance. Children are taught to use a wide range of sources, evaluate evidence, and communicate their understanding in different ways.

Throughout the school, history learning is enriched through carefully chosen themes such as leadership, invasion and empire, settlements, crime and punishment, religion and beliefs, and health. These themes provide a coherent structure to our curriculum, allowing children to make meaningful connections across different periods of history and develop a deeper understanding of how these aspects have shaped societies over time. Through practical and engaging experiences and high-quality resources, pupils explore how these themes have influenced people’s lives in the past and continue to impact the world today.

Impact

By the time children leave Starcross, they will:

• Use historical vocabulary accurately and confidently.
• Have a secure understanding of chronology and key periods studied.
• Understand how the past has influenced the present and shaped the world around them.
• Make links between History and other subjects such as Geography, English and Science.
• Ask thoughtful questions and demonstrate strong enquiry and reasoning skills.
• Interpret and evaluate a range of historical sources and evidence.
• Communicate their historical knowledge clearly through discussion, writing and creative work.
• Develop respect and appreciation for different cultures, societies and ways of life.
• Leave school as curious, reflective and enthusiastic historians with a strong understanding of their place in history.