History at Bradfield CE Primary

At Bradfield C.E. Primary School, the purpose of History is to encourage curiosity in children and a desire to learn about the past of both Britain and the wider world, thus gaining a coherent knowledge and chronological understanding of how the world has developed to its present day. Children are encouraged and taught how to ask meaningful questions, and answer them by thinking critically, developing perspective and making informed judgements.  It is our aim for our children to empathise with the complexities of life for the people of the time period studied, identify the drivers and causes for change, explore the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups and make connections with these to the modern world. 

History is driven by a purposeful big question, for example, “What did the Romans do for us?”, which are answered as the unit progresses and are designed to spark inquisitiveness in our students.

Lessons are taught weekly, or across an afternoon each fortnight, to ensure that children are able to digest and acquire knowledge in depth.

Throughout the course of the unit, links are made to prior learning and common threshold concepts to allow children to make comparisons and gain a deeper understanding of historic knowledge. This is done within lessons but also in the form of a 'Do Now', which is completed and self-marked at the start of every lesson.

History is taught chronologically throughout each year group and in two parts; Ancient History and History post 1066. Skills are developed in lessons and outside of them, through the use of film, textbooks, artefacts and child-led questions. 

Enrichment takes the form of visitors and school trips, which are carefully planned to build on children’s curiosity about events and people from the past.

To find out more about our History curriculum please use the blue download tabs below.