History

Intent

At Edmondsley Primary Academy, we aim to ignite pupils’ curiosity about the past and help them develop a secure understanding of how history has shaped the world they live in today. Our History curriculum provides a coherent, chronological framework that enables children to explore significant events, people and periods, and to make meaningful connections across time.

We want pupils to develop a deep appreciation for the richness of human experience and to understand their place within the wider world. History at Edmondsley begins with pupils’ own lives and local heritage, gradually expanding to national and global history as they grow in knowledge and confidence.

We encourage and foster:

• A curiosity and enthusiasm for learning about the past.
• An appreciation of local history and how our community has changed over time.
• An understanding of how people’s actions in the past influence our lives today.
• Opportunities for pupils to explore historical evidence and develop their own interpretations.
• Critical thinking skills—asking perceptive questions, weighing evidence and forming reasoned judgements.
• First-hand experiences through handling artefacts, engaging with visitors, and exploring historical sites.
• Secure chronological understanding alongside rich, embedded historical knowledge.
• Independence in using historical enquiry methods, developing informed responses to historical questions.

Implementation

Our History curriculum is carefully sequenced to build knowledge progressively year by year, following the Early Years Foundation Stage and the 2014 National Curriculum. This ensures that all pupils:

• Gain a secure understanding of the past through well-planned units that develop chronological awareness.
• Learn key historical knowledge across significant eras, civilisations, individuals and events.
• Develop an understanding of the nature of historical enquiry by using a range of sources—artefacts, photographs, written accounts, stories, oral history and digital media.
• Are encouraged to investigate, question, compare and explain historical changes and continuities.
• Record their work with increasing detail and sophistication, demonstrating secure understanding of historical concepts such as cause and consequence, similarity and difference, and significance.
• Build the skills required to think as historians—evaluating evidence, presenting arguments and understanding how interpretations of the past are formed.

Learning is enriched through:

• Classroom displays featuring timelines, key vocabulary and historical sources.
• Visits, workshops and fieldwork linked to current history units.
• Opportunities to explore local history within the community and school grounds.
• Cross-curricular links, particularly with English, geography, art and computing, to deepen understanding and make learning meaningful.

Impact

Our high-quality History curriculum ensures that pupils leave Edmondsley Primary Academy with:

• A strong knowledge of the past and how it influences the present.
• The ability to think critically, ask thoughtful questions and evaluate a range of historical sources.
• A secure chronological understanding that helps them make sense of world events and historical change.
• A sense of identity and an appreciation of their local heritage, national narrative and global history.
• The confidence and skills needed for future historical study in Key Stage Three and beyond.

By engaging with diverse and meaningful historical enquiry throughout their time at our school, pupils develop curiosity, confidence and an informed perspective on the world—preparing them for life as knowledgeable, reflective and responsible citizens.

Links

• National Curriculum – History Key Stage 1 & 2
• Vocabulary Progression History
• Edmondsley Primary Long Term Plan History

Celebrating History

VE day celebration – Thursday 8^th May 2025