We want children to view history as a living field – to feel empowered to act as historians by asking questions and examining sources – rather than as a subject where someone else has all the answers. We encourage children to extend their knowledge by undertaking their own research, and by beginning to develop their own explanations and theories. We also want them to develop confidence in making links between periods, or between cultures, whilst developing a clear understanding of chronology through learning key dates in British history. We can strengthen this by embedding history across the curriculum – for instance giving a historical dimension to scientific discussions about invention or innovation, or ensuring that a sense of the historical period underpins our approach to literature or British values.

Our aim is for our pupils to be able to understand and learn from the people from the past who have made the greatest impact. 

Knowledge learnt in KS1 provides a foundation for concepts taught in KS2. Year 1 history centres around aspects closer in time to children’s own experiences. Year 2 history begins to look at more abstract ideas which are further away from a child’s own experiences.

In KS2, the curriculum gives pupils a strong grounding in British history, from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, the first settlements through Roman Britain, the Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and World War Two.