BeaconsfieldHistory
History explores the lives of people in the past and the ways their actions have shaped the present. By incorporating learning about their local area, it helps children understand the world around them and supports the development of their own sense of identity.
At Beaconsfield Primary School, we have designed our history curriculum to be fully inclusive and accessible to every child. We offer a broad, balanced, and differentiated programme of study that consistently promotes British Values and incorporates oracy, enabling pupils to develop their speaking and listening skills through discussion, questioning, and debate.
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure that pupils’ historical knowledge, understanding, and skills build progressively over time. History is taught as a separate subject and alternates termly with Geography, for example: Autumn 1 focuses on History, followed by Geography in Autumn 2.
We have designed our KS2 history curriculum around the theme ‘Migration throughout History’ to better reflect and celebrate the diversity of our local community
The aim of our History curriculum is to inspire curious and enthusiastic learners who develop a real interest in the past. We want our children to become confident young historians who:
- Build a strong understanding of people, events, and different periods in history.
- Develop a clear sense of chronology, understanding the concept of time and the order in which events and civilisations such as the Stone Age, Ancient Greeks, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Tudors and Victorians lived.
- Talk about their learning clearly and confidently, developing their oracy skills through discussion, questioning, and sharing ideas with others.
- Explore and study artefacts to help bring history to life, developing their ability to ask questions and make inferences about the past.
- Learn how to use evidence from different sources to form their own opinions and respectfully consider the views of others.
- Ask thoughtful questions, take part in discussions and debates, and enjoy exploring different perspectives about the past.
- Develop a genuine curiosity about history and understand that people may interpret events in different ways.
- Learn about the history of their local area, including Southall, helping them feel connected to their community and understand how it has changed over time.
- Enjoy taking on challenges, including opportunities to carry out their own research into topics that interest them.
Each history topic is centered on a key enquiry question, such as ‘How did early humans settle in Britain?’ or ‘What was the impact of Roman migration into Britain?’ Children build their knowledge step by step, so that by the end of each sequence of lessons they can answer these questions with confidence. Throughout this process, oracy is developed through structured opportunities for discussion, questioning, and presenting ideas, leading to clear oracy outcomes such as speaking confidently, using appropriate vocabulary, and listening and responding thoughtfully to others. This approach encourages curiosity, promotes thoughtful questioning, and helps children develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Our history curriculum is organised around five knowledge categories that run through each unit. These knowledge categories are:
- Main events,
- Movement of people,
- Daily life,
- Myths, beliefs and legends,
- How we know about the past?
These themes are carefully planned and revisited across different topics so children can make connections, deepen their understanding, and build a strong sense of historical perspective by seeing how their learning fits into different contexts.
Our Curriculum
Year 1 History Curriculum – click here
Year 2 History Curriculum – click here
Year 3 History Curriculum - click here
Year 4 History Curriculum - click here
Year 5 History Curriculum - click here
Year 6 History Curriculum - click here