History

In History at Staverton, we develop children's understanding and experience of both local and international history, sparking their curiosity about the wider world and allowing them to construct narratives to interpret the world.

Row of children's books on a classroom bookshelf, including titles like 'Eurek-Her!' and 'Ancient Wonders'.

Our approach

Coherent knowledge of the past

‍Pupils gain a coherent knowledge of Britain's past, contextualised within an understanding of the wider world, and develop the skills needed to investigate and draw conclusions about historical periods or events.

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Cross-curricular connections

‍History is firmly embedded within cross-curricular learning. In both Key Stage 1 and 2, history topics are drawn from whole-class texts studied in English – for example, Year 5/6 study the Second World War alongside reading Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll.

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Trips and workshops

‍A variety of workshops and visits take place throughout the year, including themed History days and trips to the SS Great Britain, a Victorian School experience, and the Bovington Tank Museum.

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History in everyday school life

‍Pupils understand how historical events have shaped their lives, thinking about the impact of the past on the present and on the community they live in. School assemblies are used to celebrate and remember significant historical events and anniversaries.

Our young historians

This is what it means to be a historian at Staverton School.

"We understand the chronology of different time periods, both in the United Kingdom and internationally."

"We use primary and secondary sources to understand an event or time period, learning to be critical of evidence and compare sources for corroboration."

"We understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance."

"We communicate historical information in a variety of ways, including artefacts, double-page spreads, presentations and writing at length."

"We learn and use historical vocabulary in the right context."

History curriculum map

Our history curriculum is organised across a two-year (A/B) rolling cycle for mixed-age classes, ensuring every unit is covered without repetition as children move through the school.

Age

Year A

Year B

Years 1 & 2

Brunel and Mary Anning

Changes in Our Personal History
The Great Fire of London

Years 3 & 4

From the Stone Age to the Iron Age
Vikings vs. Anglo-Saxons

The Romans and the Celts

Years 5 & 6

Ancient Egypt
Ancient Greece (Year 5 project)

World War 2
Mayans
Ancient Greece (Year 5 project)

Years 1 & 2

Year A

Brunel and Mary Anning

Year B

Changes in Our Personal History
The Great Fire of London

Years 3 & 4

Year A‍

From the Stone Age to the Iron Age
Vikings vs. Anglo-Saxons

Year B‍

The Romans and the Celts

Years 5 & 6

Year A‍

Ancient Egypt
Ancient Greece (Year 5 project)

Year B‍

World War 2
Mayans
Ancient Greece (Year 5 project)

Our History knowledge progression

History skills build carefully across five connected strands as children move through the school: Chronological Understanding, Knowledge and Understanding of the Past, Historical Interpretation, Historical Enquiry, and Organisation and Communication.

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Our full History Skills Progression Document sets out exactly what children learn to do as historians at every stage – from sequencing familiar events in EYFS, to using a wide range of primary and secondary sources to form their own opinions about historical events by Year 5/6.

Download Progression