HISTORY

History Curriculum statement

INTENT

Our history curriculum inspires curiosity and creativity, encouraging pupils to explore local, national, and global history. Rooted in our school values—Enjoy, Achieve, Aspire—it promotes critical thinking, questioning, and analysis of historical evidence.

Through our chosen scheme, pupils learn about significant events and individuals, understand changes over time, and develop empathy by exploring human behaviour and past mistakes. Chronological understanding is built year by year, helping pupils connect historical periods and concepts.

We introduce key themes such as power, invasion, migration, empire, civilisation, religion, trade, and culture, tailored to the needs of Somerford pupils. The scheme aligns with National Curriculum goals, supporting EYFS learners through Development Matters and Early Learning Goals, and laying strong foundations for future history learning.

IMPLEMENTATION

At Somerford we have adopted the Kapow Primary’s Scheme of work.   

Each six-lesson unit has a focus on chronology to allow children to explore the place in time of the period they are studying and make comparisons in other parts of the world. In EYFS, children explore the concept of history by reflecting on key experiences from their own past, helping them understand that they each have their own histories. Children further develop their awareness of the past in Key stage 1 and will know where people and events fit chronologically. This will support children in building a ‘mental timeline’ they can refer to throughout their learning in Key stage 2 and identifying connections, contrasts and trends over time. The Kapow Primary timeline supports children in developing this chronological awareness.

Our lessons are delivered using the ‘I do, we do, you do’ approach allowing children to obtain historical key knowledge and also allow children to engage in different aspects of historical enquiry. Within the scheme guidance is given on how to adapt the teaching to ensure that learning can be accessed by all learners. Key words are taught explicitly in sessions to ensure a progression of historical vocabulary. Teachers use assessment for learning strategies throughout lessons and spaced practice and retrieval throughout units and subsequent units to ensure key knowledge is embedded. Knowledge organisers for each unit support pupils in building a foundation of factual knowledge by encouraging recall of key facts, concepts and vocabulary.

IMPACT

The impact of Kapow Primary’s scheme can be constantly monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities. Each lesson includes guidance to support teachers in assessing pupils against the learning objectives. Furthermore, each unit has a skill catcher and knowledge assessment quiz which can be used at the end of the unit to provide a summative assessment.

Children will enter secondary education with a range of skills to enable them to succeed. They will be enquiring learners who ask questions about history and can make suggestions about where to find the evidence to answer the question. They will be critical and analytical thinkers who are able to make informed and balanced judgements based on their knowledge of the past. They will leave Somerford with essential knowledge encompassing a varied range of periods in British history and the history of the wider world.