What We Want Children to Learn
At Carrwood, we want all children to develop a strong understanding of the past and how it has shaped the world they live in today. Through history, pupils learn about people, places and events in their local area, in Britain and across the wider world.
Children will:
• Develop a secure sense of chronology, understanding how events fit together over time
• Learn key historical knowledge about significant people, events and societies
• Understand cause and consequence, similarities and differences, and continuity and change
• Ask historically meaningful questions and make interpretations using evidence
• Build a rich historical vocabulary and learn how historians find out about the past
From Early Years upwards, history helps children develop their curiosity, confidence and sense of identity, encouraging them to recognise that they too can influence the future.
How We Teach It
History is taught through engaging, carefully sequenced lessons that build knowledge and skills year by year.
Key features of our approach include:
• A progressive curriculum that builds on previous learning
• Teaching both historical facts (substantive knowledge) and historical skills (disciplinary knowledge)
• A strong focus on vocabulary, talk and discussion
• Regular opportunities for retrieval practice so learning is remembered over time
• Use of artefacts, images, timelines and stories to bring history to life
• Lessons adapted to meet pupils’ needs, including adult support, visual aids and carefully chosen texts
• Learning is assessed through mid-point and end of unit quizzes.
Children learn to work like historians by exploring sources such as artefacts, documents, artwork and first hand accounts, while understanding that different interpretations of the past can exist.
We enhance learning through trips, visitors and real life experiences, helping pupils make meaningful connections between the classroom and the wider world.
What Children Will Achieve
By the time children leave Carrwood, they will:
• Have a secure understanding of key historical periods, people and events
• Be confident using historical language and concepts
• Understand how history has impacted their own lives and communities
• Be able to think critically, ask questions and explain ideas clearly
• Show respect and understanding for different cultures, beliefs and experiences
• Be well prepared for the next stage of their history learning at Key Stage 3
Pupil voice shows that children feel confident in their knowledge and skills and are able to talk about history with enthusiasm and understanding.
Our Vision
Our vision is to inspire curious, confident and thoughtful historians who understand the world around them and appreciate how the past shapes the present.
Through history, we aim to develop children who:
• Are reflective, resilient and respectful
• Understand the importance of British values, democracy and mutual respect
• Appreciate diversity and the experiences of people across time and cultures
• Recognise that learning from the past can help create a better future
We want our pupils to leave Carrwood with a lasting interest in history, a strong sense of identity, and the belief that they can make a positive difference in society.
