History

Intent

At Hayes Primary School, our intent in history is to ignite children's curiosity about the past and deepen their understanding of how people lived, thought and acted. We aim to build a secure sense of chronology so that children develop a strong sense of identity and an appreciation of the diverse cultures and histories that shape modern Britain. Through exploring significant events, civilisations and individuals, pupils learn how the past influences life today and are encouraged to think critically about the world around them. Our curriculum is designed to help children become thoughtful, analytical historians who can investigate the past with confidence, using well-developed skills of enquiry, interpretation and problem-solving.

Implementation

Our history teaching is rooted in helping children think and question like historians. We place a strong emphasis on exploring historical artefacts and primary sources \,and we provide meaningful opportunities for pupils to visit places of historical significance. Visitors are regularly invited to share first-hand experiences, and our “Immersion Days” bring periods of history to life in a highly engaging way. Storytelling is used deliberately to spark curiosity and deepen pupils’ understanding.

Throughout the curriculum, children are taught that historical events and accounts can be interpreted in different ways, and they are encouraged to ask considered questions – such as “How do we know?” – to evaluate the reliability of information. Each unit includes rich, hands-on learning that helps secure knowledge and builds pupils’ understanding of key historical concepts as they progress through the school.

Diversity is woven through our planning. Children learn that people from a wide range of backgrounds, ethnicities and religions have shaped the world, and we aim for every child to see themselves reflected in our curriculum. Our topics also provide natural opportunities to explore British Values, including democracy across time, the rule of law, individual rights, tolerance and mutual respect.

Impact

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

• A secure and connected understanding of the people, events and contexts from the historical periods they have studied.

• The ability to think critically about the past and to communicate their ideas clearly and confidently for different audiences.

• The confidence to support, evaluate and challenge interpretations using accurate and relevant evidence from a range of historical sources.

• The skills to reflect, debate, discuss and evaluate historical issues, forming thoughtful questions and purposeful lines of enquiry.

• A genuine enthusiasm for history, with a curiosity about the past and an understanding that it can be interpreted in different ways.

• A respectful, analytical approach to historical evidence, enabling them to make well-reasoned explanations and judgements.

• A willingness to take on challenging tasks, including opportunities to carry out high-quality independent research across a range of historical topics.