History at The Hayes Primary School

At The Hayes Primary School, History plays a vital role in helping children understand who they are, where they come from and how the world around them has been shaped. Through a carefully planned and engaging curriculum, we encourage pupils to be curious, thoughtful and reflective learners who value diversity and respect different perspectives. Our History curriculum supports our whole-school vision by developing confident, knowledgeable children who ask questions, think critically and make meaningful connections between the past and their own lives, our local community in Kenley, Britain and the wider world.

Intent

At The Hayes Primary School, our intent is to deliver a rich, enquiry-driven History curriculum that inspires curiosity, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the past. In line with the National Curriculum, we aim for all pupils to develop a secure chronological understanding of British, local and world history, alongside a growing awareness of how historical events, people and societies have shaped the world we live in today.

Using the Kapow Primary History scheme of work, we ensure that learning is coherently planned, inclusive and progressive. Pupils build both substantive knowledge (key events, people and periods) and disciplinary knowledge (how historians investigate, interpret and debate the past). Through this approach, our curriculum enables children to:

• Ask perceptive questions and think like young historians
• Develop a strong sense of chronology and historical context
• Respect and value diversity by exploring a wide range of societies, cultures and viewpoints
• Understand change, continuity, cause and consequence and historical significance
• Recognise that history can be interpreted in different ways and that bias may exist.  Feel confident to challenge assumptions and interpret evidence.
• Make meaningful links between local history, including Kenley and the wider borough, and national and global events. 
• Develop rich historical vocabulary and transferable skills that support learning across the curriculum

Our ultimate aim is for children to leave The Hayes with the confidence, secure historical knowledge and a curiosity to continue exploring the past independently and thoughtfully.

Implementation

History at The Hayes is taught through Kapow’s structured, spiral curriculum, ensuring consistency, progression and depth from EYFS to Year 6. We implement our History curriculum through the following key approaches:

1. Carefully sequenced units

Units are thoughtfully sequenced to revisit and build upon prior learning, helping pupils develop a secure chronological framework. Knowledge and skills are progressively deepened across year groups.

2. Enquiry-based learning

Each unit is driven by a key historical enquiry question. Pupils investigate the past through sources, artefacts, images, texts, discussion and role play, mirroring the work of historians and encouraging critical thinking.

3. Substantive and disciplinary knowledge

Teaching explicitly develops:

• Substantive knowledge of significant people, events and eras
• Disciplinary skills, including analysing sources and evaluating evidence, identifying bias, understanding cause and consequence, recognising change and continuity and exploring different interpretations

4. Inclusive and engaging pedagogy

Lessons are designed to be accessible to all learners, including pupils with SEND, EAL learners and disadvantaged children. Teaching includes practical activities, high-quality visuals and imagery, vocabulary scaffolding, retrieval practice and structured discussion. Teachers adapt Kapow resources to meet the needs of children at The Hayes.

5. Local history and community links

Where possible, learning is enriched through links to Kenley, our local area and the school community, helping children understand how historical events have shaped their own surroundings.

6. Cross-curricular enrichment

History learning is enhanced and strengthened through links with English, Geography, Art, Drama and Computing, providing varied and rich opportunities for pupils to deepen understanding and communicate ideas creatively.

7. Assessment for learning

Assessment is ongoing and purposeful. Teachers use Kapow assessment guidance, low-stakes quizzes, retrieval activities, observation and pupil discussion to identify progress and misconceptions. This informs planning and ensures all pupils build secure historical understanding and knowledge over time.

Impact

By the time pupils leave The Hayes Primary School, they will:

• Have a secure understanding of chronology and be able to place historical periods and events in context
• Demonstrate strong substantive knowledge of the diverse people, civilisations and cultures studied
• Apply disciplinary thinking to analyse evidence sources, explain change over time and evaluate interpretations.
• Communicate historical understanding confidently using accurate and ambitious vocabulary
• Show curiosity, independence and enthusiasm for learning about the past.
• Understand how history influences life in Kenley, Britain and the wider world.
• Be well prepared for the next stage of their education with the skills and knowledge of thoughtful young historians.

The impact of the History curriculum is monitored through assessment outcomes, pupil voice, work scrutiny, learning walks and subject leadership review. This ensures continuous improvement and high-quality provision for all learners.

Through a coherent curriculum, strong subject leadership and high-quality teaching, History at The Hayes Primary School develops reflective, informed and respectful individuals who appreciate the complexity and richness of the past and its relevance to their future.

How History is taught throughout the school (Curriculum Mapping)