“History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future.” — Margaret MacMillan
Curriculum Intent
At Breckon Hill Primary School, we believe that, through the study of history, we can help our pupils make sense of their world and enrich their understanding of it. Our aims are to provide a broad, balanced History Curriculum that ensures development of historical understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world and to encourage and develop a lifelong curiosity about the word around them and how past events and significant people have shaped it.
Through the curriculum, pupils will understand the similarities and differences between societies and cultures, and the impact of changes on people and places.
We want children to:
- Gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world
- Be curious to know more about the past
- Ask questions and develop their critical thinking skills
- Begin to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups
- Gain a sense of their own identity within a social, political, cultural and economic background.
Because of this, we feel it is important for the subject to be taught discretely as well as incorporated within other curriculum subjects such as English, Geography, Design and Technology and Art.
Curriculum Implementation
During a pupil’s journey from Y1 to Y6, our History Curriculum builds on the Knowledge and Understanding of the world. We designed and sequenced our History Curriculum to draw on our local area where appropriate and local heritage links are embedded across the curriculum, so pupils gain a sense of place and a connection to where they live and go to school. Learning opportunities are developed throughout to ensure pupils engage with and enjoy the heritage on their doorstep and understand its significance locally, nationally and in the wider world.
Our History Curriculum is built around the progression of the ‘Big Ideas’: chronology, exploration, invasion, settlement, monarchy, religion, legacy and technological advancement.
In Ealy Years Foundation Stage, children begin to develop an understanding of history through Understanding the World, learning about their own lives, families and communities. They explore traditions, consider similarities and differences between the past and present, and are introduced to significant events and how these connect to the idea of history.
In Key Stage 1, pupils learn about changes within living memory and beyond. They develop their knowledge of significant individuals and begin to engage with historical enquiry by exploring different sources. Pupils are encouraged to ask and answer questions, and to make simple comparisons between past and present.
In Key Stage 2, pupils build on their chronological understanding, using timelines to place events and periods in context. They deepen their ability to compare and contrast different historical periods, develop more sophisticated questioning skills, and use a range of primary and secondary sources to research and gather evidence. By the end of KS2, pupils are able to think critically, evaluate evidence and form their own informed conclusions.
We are very proud to have been named a Champion Heritage School by Historic England in recognition of our commitment and excellence in teaching pupils about their local heritage. Read about this here.
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History Documents
| Document | Download |
| History and Geography Overview | Download |
| Example of End of Unit History Assessment Quiz | Download |
| The Big Ideas | Download |
