History
Intent
At Thornhill Primary School, we want our children to develop an inquisitive nature. Through the teaching of History, we aim to stimulate all children’s interest and understanding of the lives of people in the past. We teach children a sense of chronology, enabling them to develop a strong sense of identity and cultural understanding based on their historical heritage. This allows our children to value their own and others’ cultures within modern multicultural Britain. We ensure that children learn about significant individuals and events in British history, whilst appreciating how society has changed over time. This supports pupils in understanding how Britain has developed and strengthens their awareness of their country of residence. In addition, children explore local, British and Ancient history, developing a broader understanding of historical developments across the wider world. We believe that by providing a range of engaging opportunities, children will develop an enjoyment and appreciation of History, becoming enthusiastic learners about the world around them. Through this approach, pupils are encouraged to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, and the diversity of societies and beliefs, while celebrating these differences.
Implementation
History is taught in half-termly blocks across the year, with careful planning to ensure clear progression within each year group. We use the Developing Experts scheme of work to support high-quality planning, ensuring coverage of key knowledge, skills and vocabulary across the curriculum. Learning begins by revisiting prior knowledge, helping children to make connections and strengthen understanding. This is scaffolded to support recall and build on previous learning. Teachers explicitly model subject-specific vocabulary, knowledge and skills, enabling children to embed new learning into larger concepts. We place strong emphasis on developing both immediate recall and long-term understanding, ensuring that children retain key concepts over time. Through this approach, pupils are encouraged to think and work like historians, asking questions, exploring evidence and developing their enquiry skills, allowing them to deepen their understanding of the past.