At Georgeham CofE Primary School, we provide our pupils with a coherent knowledge and understanding of the past of Britain and the wider world. We ensure that all our pupils have a clear understanding of historical concepts and can confidently use historical vocabulary. Our high-quality lessons engage our students and inspire them to explore more about the past.

We encourage our students to ask perceptive questions and provide them with the skills to think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgment to reach their own conclusions. We believe in the importance of history in enabling pupils to appreciate the complexity of others’ lives, how things change, the diversity of society, and the relationships between different groups. Through the teaching of history, our students learn more about their own identity and the challenges of their time.

We use the Ventrus History Knowledge Entitlement (inspired by the Chris Quigley curriculum) and Keystage History to inform our planning and teaching of history. To build the schema, the subject is underpinned by four threshold concepts:

• Investigate and interpret the past: Understanding that our knowledge of the past comes from interpreting available evidence.
• Build an overview of world history: Appreciating the characteristic features of the past and understanding that life was different for various sections of society.
• Understand chronology: Understanding how to chart the passing of time and recognizing that some historical events occurred simultaneously in different places.
• Communicate historically: Using historical vocabulary and techniques to convey information about the past.

History is taught in blocks linked to a cross-curricular theme within a two-year rolling program. Children are explicitly taught the relevant vocabulary for history, which is clearly displayed on the working wall and referenced during teaching. Teachers use age-appropriate skills and knowledge documents to ensure that learning is progressive throughout the school. As a result of our curriculum design, all children develop a broad and balanced understanding of the history of the world and, in particular, Britain. They gain a coherent understanding of the chronology of events they have learned across their primary education. All children will be confident in analysing sources, equipping them for their secondary school history education and beyond.