discover more about
Our History Curriculum
The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.
Theodore Roosevelt
Intent
At Our Lady and St Edward’s, our aim is to inspire children to think critically and ask thoughtful questions about the past. We want them to develop a strong sense of chronology, particularly with regard to the history of the British Isles, while also exploring significant periods and events from across the world. As they learn, children are encouraged to make connections between different time periods and relate their learning to their local community and wider world. Through a focus on change, continuity, and legacy, we help pupils explore how the past has shaped the present. By comparing different societies and drawing out similarities and differences across time, they begin to form a more rounded understanding of history. We also nurture their curiosity, encouraging them to investigate historical questions and develop their own ideas and interpretations based on evidence.
Implementation
Our History curriculum is built around an enquiry-based approach, with learning carefully sequenced to support progress in both skills and knowledge. In Key Stage 1, children begin by looking at the world around them and events within living memory before exploring key moments from the more distant past. Each unit builds on the last, helping children to develop a clear sense of historical chronology. This approach lays a strong foundation for Key Stage 2, where pupils study History through thematic units that revisit and build on what they’ve learned before. Teachers begin each new topic by recapping earlier learning and introducing key vocabulary, helping pupils to make links and deepen their understanding.
As children move through school, they develop a range of historical skills, including understanding chronology, interpreting evidence, communicating ideas, and asking meaningful questions. Lessons are designed to help pupils retain knowledge over time, with opportunities for key ideas to be revisited throughout the year and across year groups. Vocabulary is taught explicitly and reinforced regularly to help children express their ideas with confidence. A range of teaching methods—including storytelling, drama, drawing, data handling, role-play, and the use of technology—brings learning to life and allows children to explore History in creative and engaging ways. Artefacts and enquiry questions play a central role in helping children investigate the past and present their findings in different formats.
We’ve identified four key themes that run throughout our History curriculum, helping pupils to make connections as they progress through school: Local and British History (such as The Gunpowder Plot in Year 1 or The Spirit of Preston’s Past in Year 5); The Lives of Significant People (like kings, queens, nurses, and explorers); Early Civilizations (including topics like The Empire Strikes Back in Year 4); and Invaders and Settlers (such as Community Changes in Year 4 and Struggles and Settlements in Year 6)
Impact
By the time they leave Our Lady and St Edward’s, pupils will be able to think critically about the past and use what they’ve learned to form balanced, informed views. They will understand how events from history have shaped the world they live in today—both globally and locally. They’ll be able to ask thoughtful questions, explore different perspectives, and draw on a growing historical vocabulary to explain their ideas. Our approach helps children to remember what they’ve learned and make meaningful links between topics. Wherever possible, their learning is enriched by trips and visitors, which give them real-life insights into the people and events they study. Overall, pupils leave us with a strong foundation in historical knowledge and enquiry skills, ready to continue their learning in secondary school and beyond.