Intent

At St. Stephen's C of E Primary School, we follow the National Curriculum through the Kapow Primary History scheme. Our curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity about Britain's past and the wider world, helping pupils understand how the past influences the present. We aim to develop enthusiastic historians who ask thoughtful questions, evaluate evidence and think critically about the world around them.

Learning builds progressively from Reception to Year 6 through three key strands:

• Chronological Understanding – developing pupils' understanding of time, from their own personal history to ancient civilisations

• Historical Enquiry and Interpretation – investigating a range of historical sources and understanding how historians construct knowledge about the past

• Cause and Consequence – exploring why significant events happened and how they have shaped the world we live in today

• Cultural Heritage – exploring local, national and global history to understand how communities and societies have changed over time

Through these strands, pupils develop secure historical knowledge alongside the skills to investigate, analyse, interpret and communicate their understanding with confidence

Implementation

Our History curriculum is carefully sequenced so that knowledge and skills build progressively throughout each year group.

Pupils develop an understanding of key historical concepts, including chronology, cause and consequence, similarity and difference, and historical significance. They learn to investigate the past using a range of evidence, including artefacts, archaeological discoveries, census records, portraits and oral histories, recognising that history is constructed from the evidence that survives

In the Early Years and Key Stage 1, children begin by exploring their own personal history before learning about changes within living memory, significant people and important events beyond living memory.

In Key Stage 2, pupils deepen their chronological understanding by studying British history from the Stone Age to World War II alongside significant world civilisations, including the Ancient Egyptians, Ancient Greeks and Ancient Maya.

Each unit begins by revisiting prior learning and introducing key vocabulary, enquiry questions and knowledge organisers to support learning. Retrieval practice, educational visits and engaging experiences help pupils retain knowledge and make meaningful connections across their learning.

Impact

By the end of Year 6, pupils are confident, inquisitive historians with a secure understanding of chronology and the significance of key people, events and civilisations. They can ask perceptive questions, analyse a range of historical evidence, recognise different interpretations and communicate their ideas clearly.

Pupils leave St. Stephen's with an appreciation of their own local heritage and its place within Britain's history and the wider world. Assessment takes place throughout each unit through retrieval activities, discussion and end-of-unit assessments, ensuring children are well prepared for the next stage of their education.