At Hethersett VC Primary School, we believe in a curriculum that is broad, balanced and valued across all subjects. Our History curriculum inspires curiosity about the past and helps children understand how people, events and civilizations have shaped the world we live in today. We want pupils to develop a secure understanding of Britain's past and that of the wider world, whilst building the skills needed to think critically and question evidence.

Our curriculum is designed to:

• Recognise prior learning, provide first-hand experiences and build resilience
• Develop enquiry skills, critical thinking and historical understanding
• Promote purposeful learning, enjoyable experiences and coherent progression
• Encourage curiosity about people, events and societies from the past

We use the Kapow Primary History curriculum to deliver engaging, progressive and knowledge-rich lessons. The curriculum is carefully sequenced from Reception to Year 6, enabling children to develop both substantive historical knowledge and disciplinary skills as historians. Through the study of significant events, civilisations and individuals, pupils learn how the past has shaped the present and continues to influence the future.

Every child is seen as unique, valued and celebrated within our school community. Through History, pupils develop an appreciation of different cultures, perspectives and experiences, whilst learning to understand the complexity of the human story.

Our Christian values of wisdom, compassion, responsibility, truthfulness and friendship encourage pupils to reflect on the choices people have made in the past and consider the impact of those decisions on societies and communities.

Our Curriculum Approach

History forms part of our carefully planned foundation curriculum, which is structured around termly themes and three overarching concepts:

• Systems – understanding how societies, governments and civilisations function
• Connection – recognising relationships between people, events, cultures and periods of history
• Change – exploring how societies, beliefs and ways of life develop over time

These concepts are revisited throughout pupils' time at Hethersett, enabling them to build increasingly sophisticated historical understanding. Learning begins with familiar experiences, local history and simple timelines in Key Stage 1 and develops into more complex analysis of cause and consequence, significance, interpretation and change by the end of Key Stage 2.

History is taught as a discrete subject through the Kapow curriculum, ensuring pupils develop secure historical knowledge, vocabulary and disciplinary thinking. Where appropriate, teachers draw attention to meaningful links with the wider curriculum theme, helping pupils make connections across their learning whilst maintaining the integrity of the subject.

Intent

At Hethersett VC Primary School, we aim to inspire pupils to become curious, knowledgeable and reflective historians.

Through the Kapow Primary History curriculum, pupils develop:

• A secure understanding of Britain's past and the wider world
• Knowledge of significant events, civilisations and individuals
• A chronological understanding of history
• Historical enquiry and investigative skills
• The ability to analyse and evaluate different sources of evidence
• An understanding of cause and consequence
• An appreciation of how and why interpretations of history can differ

We want children to understand that history is not simply a collection of facts, but a way of investigating and understanding the past through evidence, enquiry and critical thinking.

Through their studies, pupils develop an appreciation of how societies, beliefs, technologies and cultures have changed over time and how these developments continue to influence modern life.

Implementation

History is taught through the carefully structured Kapow Primary curriculum, which provides clear progression in both historical knowledge and disciplinary skills.

Children develop their learning through enquiries and investigations that focus on:

• Chronological understanding
• Historical knowledge and understanding
• Cause and consequence
• Similarity and difference
• Historical significance
• Historical interpretation
• The use of evidence and sources

Lessons encourage pupils to:

• Ask historical questions
• Explore a range of historical sources
• Analyse evidence critically
• Compare different periods and societies
• Consider multiple perspectives
• Develop historical arguments and explanations
• Communicate their understanding using appropriate historical vocabulary

Throughout the curriculum, pupils explore how systems of power and governance operate, how connections between people and cultures influence historical events and how societies change over time.

Children begin by exploring changes within living memory and significant individuals before progressing to studies of ancient civilisations, invasions, settlements, empires and key turning points in history. As they move through the school, pupils become increasingly confident in evaluating evidence, recognising differing interpretations and understanding the complexity of historical events.

Historical vocabulary is explicitly taught and revisited to ensure pupils can discuss and explain their learning with increasing precision and confidence.

Impact

The impact of our History curriculum is seen in pupils who are curious, informed and able to think critically about the past.

Throughout lessons, teachers use formative assessment strategies including:

• Questioning and discussion
• Retrieval activities
• Historical enquiries
• Source analysis
• Timeline work
• Pupil reflection and evaluation

These approaches enable teachers to assess understanding, identify misconceptions and adapt teaching to support all learners.

Kapow's assessment materials also support teachers in evaluating how effectively pupils have secured key historical knowledge, vocabulary and skills.

By the time they leave Hethersett VC Primary School, pupils will:

• Have a secure understanding of key periods, events and individuals from history
• Use historical vocabulary accurately and confidently
• Demonstrate a strong sense of chronology
• Understand how and why societies have changed over time
• Analyse and evaluate historical sources and evidence
• Recognise that historical interpretations can differ
• Explain causes, consequences and significance of important events
• Demonstrate curiosity, critical thinking and a lifelong interest in the past

Throughout their time at Hethersett, pupils engage in meaningful historical enquiries, handle evidence, explore different perspectives and develop a deeper understanding of how the past has shaped the world around them. They leave primary school with the knowledge, skills and curiosity needed to continue exploring history and understanding their place within the wider human story.