Our Historical Vision

History shapes who we are. It helps give us a better understanding of the world, ourselves, of different places and people.  Through the teaching of history, we develop children to think like historians through developing their questioning, how to use evidence and to make interpretations, connections and to understand context. 

How we teach history:

Our history curriculum is carefully sequenced, we develop knowledge and understanding  (including chronology) alongside skills of enquiry and interpretation. 

• Building Secure Foundations: Starting in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we lay the crucial groundwork for historical understanding by exploring personal histories and the concept of time. 

• Chronological Mastery: As children progress, we utilise retrieval practice (regularly revisiting prior learning) to ensure they build a secure chronological framework. They learn exactly where momentous events and famous figures sit within a historical timeline. 

• Growing Cultural Capital: We introduce our pupils to the complexities of ancient civilisations—from the birth of democracy in Ancient Greece to the legacy of the World Wars. This ensures they acquire the rich cultural capital needed to become informed, active global citizens. 

We ensure that history is accessible, engaging, and challenging for all by: 

• Adaptive Teaching: This means that rather than capping expectations, we dynamically adjust our support and resources to ensure every individual child is guided to achieve their full potential, effectively removing barriers to learning. 

• Bringing History to Life: Supported by evidence-informed teaching, our pupils are transformed into real archaeologists, researchers, and museum curators. Whether they are exploring ancient worlds through our immersive Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, examining real historical artefacts, or taking part in interactive 'Now Press Play' audio adventures, we ensure learning is memorable. 

• Enrichment & Experiences: We champion the holistic development of our pupils through incredible enrichment opportunities. Trips to Butser Ancient Farm, the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, and the Houses of Parliament ensure that our history curriculum goes far beyond the classroom walls. 

The impact:

By the time our pupils leave Year 6, they are not just knowledgeable about history; they are young historians equipped with the essential skills for the next stage of their education. 

• Critical Thinkers: Our curriculum promotes rigorous character building and critical analysis. Pupils learn to weigh evidence, debate perspectives, and consider the reliability of sources—vital skills for navigating the modern world and social media. 

• Emotional Literacy: Studying the triumphs and tragedies of the past helps develop emotional literacy, allowing children to empathise with different societal groups, understand their own identity, and reflect on human behaviour. 

• A Lifelong Passion: Ultimately, we deliver a strong standard of education that leaves pupils passionate about history, able to learn from the lessons of the past, and inspired to positively shape our future. 

Curriculum Overview

 

“My favourite thing about history is getting to debate issues after we have looked at different sources – it makes it interesting.” 

“It is important to learn about history to learn about the past and learn from their mistakes”  

“My teacher is a good history teacher – she is enthusiastic and has a magical way to help us.”

South Camberley Pupils