We are Historians!
"We are not makers of History, we are made by History"
Martin Luther King Jnr.
Intent
At St Augustine’s RC Primary School, we are committed to helping pupils develop a fascination with the past and an understanding of how history has shaped the communities, countries and world in which we live today. Through engaging and ambitious learning experiences, children develop historical knowledge alongside the skills needed to question, investigate and evaluate.
Our History curriculum follows the National Curriculum and is designed to build pupils' understanding of significant individuals, events and civilisations across local, British and world history. We want pupils to leave St Augustine’s with a secure knowledge of the past and the confidence to think critically about historical events and their impact on society.
History learning is centred on two equally important elements:
- Historical knowledge: the people, periods, events and developments that pupils learn about throughout their time in school.
- Historical enquiry: the methods historians use to investigate the past, including analysing sources, evaluating evidence, identifying different viewpoints and drawing informed conclusions.
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure that learning builds over time. Pupils continually revisit and strengthen previous knowledge, helping them place new learning within an increasingly secure understanding of chronology and historical change.
Historical vocabulary is introduced, modelled and revisited regularly so pupils can discuss and communicate their understanding with confidence and accuracy.
Implementation
History is taught through a progressive sequence of units that develop both subject knowledge and historical thinking. Learning builds systematically from EYFS to Year 6, enabling pupils to deepen their understanding as they move through school.
Each unit focuses on four key areas of historical learning:
- Chronology
- Communicating History
- Investigating the Past
- Thinking Like a Historian
Teachers plan learning that encourages children to explore historical questions, examine evidence and make links between periods of history. Lessons provide opportunities for pupils to develop independence, curiosity and analytical thinking whilst acquiring important substantive knowledge.
Teachers:
- Build upon prior learning through regular retrieval and review.
- Help pupils identify connections between historical events, periods and themes.
- Use questioning and assessment to check understanding and address misconceptions.
- Promote discussion and debate to deepen historical understanding.
Children are given opportunities to record, explain and present their learning in a variety of ways. Educational visits, visitors and enrichment activities further enhance the curriculum and provide meaningful contexts for learning.
Historical Enquiry and Careers
A key aspect of History at St Augustine’s is understanding how knowledge of the past is created and interpreted. Pupils learn that history is not simply about remembering facts, but about investigating evidence and constructing explanations.
Through their learning, pupils explore:
- How evidence helps us understand the past.
- Why different interpretations of historical events may exist.
- How historians research and communicate their findings.
- The importance of historical understanding within modern society.
Pupils are also introduced to careers where historical knowledge and enquiry skills are valued.
These may include:
- Historians
- Archaeologists
- Museum and gallery curators
- Archivists
- Journalists
- Authors and researchers
- Heritage professionals
- Teachers and lecturers
By highlighting these pathways, pupils understand how skills such as research, critical thinking, communication and analysis can support future education, employment and lifelong learning.
Impact
By the end of their time at St Augustine’s, pupils will have developed a broad and connected understanding of local, British and world history.
They will:
- Understand how historical periods and events fit within a wider chronological framework.
- Recall and explain key historical knowledge from across the curriculum.
- Use appropriate historical terminology with confidence.
- Analyse a range of historical sources and evidence.
- Recognise that different interpretations of the past may exist.
- Make informed judgements and justify opinions using historical evidence.
- Appreciate the diversity of people, cultures and experiences that have shaped the world today.
Pupils demonstrate their learning through discussion, written work and historical enquiry. They are able to ask thoughtful questions, communicate their ideas effectively and draw upon prior learning to make meaningful connections across different periods in history.
Children leave St Augustine’s as knowledgeable, reflective and curious historians, equipped with the understanding and critical thinking skills needed for the next stage of their education and for active participation in modern society.
History Curriculum Newsletter