History Aims

• KS1 pupils are taught about:
• Changes within living memory. Where appropriate, these should be used to reveal aspects of change in national life events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally (for example, the Great Fire of London, the first powered aeroplane flight or events commemorated through festivals or anniversaries).
• The lives of significant individuals in the past who have been celebrated for national and international achievements, as well as comparisons of life in different periods (for example, Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria, Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong, William Caxton and Tim Berners-Lee, Pieter Bruegel the Elder and LS Lowry, Rosa Parks and Emily Davison, Mary Seacole and/or Florence Nightingale and Edith Cavell).
• Significant historical events, people and places in their own geographical region.

• KS2 pupils are taught about:
• A chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study.
• Connections, contrasts and trends over time, incorporating appropriate historical terms. These are used to address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference and significance.
• Ways to give informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information. Pupils are taught how our knowledge of the past is built and evidenced using a wide range of sources. In planning to ensure the progression described above through teaching the British, local and world history outlined below, teachers combine overview and in-depth studies to help pupils understand both the long arc of historical development and the complexity of specific historical areas or periods.
• Pupils should be taught about: changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age • the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain • Britain’s settlement by Anglo-Saxons and Scots • the Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the Kingdom of England to the time of Edward the Confessor • a local history study • a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066 • the achievements of the earliest civilizations – an overview of where and when the first civilizations appeared and a depth study of one of the following: Ancient Sumer; The Indus Valley; Ancient Egypt; The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China • Ancient Greece – a study of Greek life and achievements and Greek influence on the western world • a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history – one study chosen from: early Islamic civilization, including a study of Baghdad c. AD 900; Mayan civilization c. AD 900; Benin (West Africa) c. AD 900-1300.

History at St George's

At St George's Church of England Primary School, we aim to offer high-quality History education that will help inspire pupils to gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain's past and that of the wider world. Our goal is to deliver an expansive and engaging History curriculum which teaches pupils to think like historians and offers hands-on, real-life experiences to promote historical interest and understanding.

Our History curriculum is monitored by the curriculum lead.

St George's Intent Statement:

Progression in History

These documents show how historical knowledge, skills and vocabulary are developed throughout the school.