At Highfield Primary School we deliver a high-quality History curriculum, through which our children gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of local, British and world History. It has been developed to inspire our children's curiosity by encouraging them to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. Through the curriculum we provide opportunities for our children to understand the process of change and to explore the impact that historical people, events and periods have had on societies, relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of our present times.

Our History Curriculum is designed to:

• stimulate curiosity and awareness of local, British, and global history
• develop chronological understanding by studying significant events and figures
• encourage comparison and contrast between past and present contexts
• foster questioning skills
• equip students with the ability to gather and evaluate evidence from diverse sources
• cultivate respect for the values and cultures of individuals across different historical periods
• build skills in inquiry, investigation, analysis, evaluation, and presentation
• promote collaboration and respectful exchange of ideas among peers

These aims are embedded across our History lessons and in the wider curriculum.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (E.Y.F.S.) setting, our History provision is delivered through the Specific Area: Understanding the World.

In Nursery our children are taught to:

• begin to make sense of their own life-story and family’s history

In Reception our children are taught to:

• comment on images of familiar situations in the past
• compare and contrast characters from stories, including figures from the past
• talk about the lives of people around them and their roles in society
• know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class
• understand the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling

In the E.Y.F.S, History is taught through a thematic approach, which enables the children to explore their knowledge and understanding of the world in context.

In Key Stages One and Two History is taught in weekly blocks. This approach enables children to have a more focused and immersive experience so that knowledge can become more deeply embedded and previous knowledge recalled quickly and built upon sequentially. Through carefully planned, progressive lessons, pupils are taught about the significance of different historical periods, key historical figures and how History has influenced their lives today.

Through the study of historical evidence and through exploring their local area, pupils will develop a deep understanding of the rich History of their locality. In order to nurture and develop our children’s critical thinking skills further, extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom are embedded into practice.

Ultimately, our aim is that our children will develop a knowledge and understanding of how key periods and events in Britain and the wider world have shaped society today. We want our children to leave our school aware of today’s challenges and how they could be viewed historically in later years. They will know that History reminds us of how far we have come and how far we have yet to go. By exploring the past, our pupils will have been able to make comparisons with today and therefore be inspired to make a positive impact on the world as responsible citizens now and in the future.