History

What Is History About?

History helps children make sense of the world by learning about people, places and events from the past. The National Curriculum states that a high‑quality history education should inspire pupils’ curiosity and help them gain a coherent understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Children learn to ask thoughtful questions, think critically, weigh evidence and consider different viewpoints, developing important skills that will support them throughout life. Through studying a wide range of historical periods, significant individuals and past civilisations, pupils begin to understand how people lived, how societies have changed and how the past influences the present. This helps them build a strong sense of identity, develop chronological understanding and appreciate both the diversity and connectedness of human history.  

 

Our Vision

At Heyes Lane, we want every child to develop the knowledge, curiosity and confidence to think like a historian. Our aim is to nurture a genuine interest in the past by helping children understand why history matters and how it shapes the world they live in today. Through exploring a wide range of historical periods, events and individuals, children build a secure sense of chronology and learn to question, investigate and interpret evidence for themselves. We teach pupils to look at different viewpoints, make connections, and form their own ideas using careful reasoning and critical thinking. As they move through school, children learn that history is not simply a list of facts, but a rich, dynamic subject full of debate, interpretation and discovery. Above all, we want our young historians to develop respect for evidence, confidence in asking thoughtful questions, and a lifelong curiosity about the people and stories that have shaped our local community, Britain and the wider world. 

 

What Does History Look Like at Heyes Lane? 

History learning at Heyes Lane always begins with a Big Question that sets the direction of the topic and ignites children’s curiosity. To bring each historical period to life, teachers use a range of immersive hooks such as themed days, visits from historical specialists, drama activities, and exciting VR experiences that allow pupils to step into significant moments from the past. Children also have frequent opportunities to handle and explore real and replica artefacts, using these valuable clues to gather information, make inferences and truly think like a historian. 

From these engaging starting points, pupils follow a carefully sequenced series of lessons that builds their historical knowledge and skills in small, meaningful steps. Throughout their learning, children revisit and deepen both substantive concepts (the key facts, events and historical knowledge) and overarching concepts such as significance, similarity and difference, and cause and consequence. These ideas are planned progressively across the school so pupils can build on their prior learning, make clear connections between different time periods, and develop a strong, long‑term understanding of how the past fits together. 

We value the celebration and sharing of learning across our school community. Children regularly showcase their history work through our Seesaw platform, through shared learning opportunities across year groups, and through whole‑school or phase showcases that allow families and visitors to see their progress and achievements.

 

How Do We Assess Children And Evaluate Our History Curriculum?

Assessment in History is purposeful, supportive and designed to help children know more and remember more. At the end of each unit, pupils complete a child-friendly quiz that helps teachers check pupils’ understanding of key knowledge, concepts and vocabulary. This complements the ongoing observations, discussions and work in lessons that help teachers identify strengths and next steps. 

When assessing and evaluating the overall impact of our History curriculum, we look closely at how children are developing across several key areas. These include: 

- An increased breadth and depth of content knowledge in History (substantive knowledge) 

- A growing understanding of how history works as a discipline, including enquiry, interpretation and use of evidence (disciplinary knowledge) 

- Developing expertise in historical skills, such as questioning, analysing evidence and forming reasoned conclusions (procedural knowledge) 

- Increasing independence as learners, becoming more confident in thinking and working like historians 

- A stronger ability to make connections, think deeply and use critical thinking skills across different historical periods and concepts 

 

Together, these principles help us understand the progress children make over time and the effectiveness of our curriculum design. Further detail about assessment approaches, required teaching hours, unit organisation and resourcing can be found in our History Policy. 

 

How Can You Help at Home?

There are many simple and enjoyable ways you can support your child’s history learning at home and help them develop a curiosity about the past. 

Talking about the past is a great starting point. Discuss family history, events from when you were younger, or significant events you may see in the news or on television. Encouraging your child to ask questions about how things have changed over time can help them begin to understand chronology and develop a sense of the past. 

You can also support your child by exploring your local area. Visits to local landmarks, historic buildings or museums provide valuable opportunities to bring history to life. Even a walk around your neighbourhood can prompt discussions about how places may have looked in the past and how they have changed. 

Sharing stories, books and films set in different time periods is another great way to build historical understanding. Talk about what life might have been like for people in the past, how it was similar or different to today, and why. 

At home, children can develop their historical skills by creating timelines of their own lives, drawing pictures of historical events, or acting out moments from history. Looking at old photographs, objects or artefacts can also help children to ask questions, make observations and think like historians. 

Finally, encourage curiosity about the wider past. Watching documentaries, visiting historical websites and discussing significant people and events can help children understand how the past has shaped the world we live in today. 

Here are some fun and engaging online resources that can support your child’s history learning at home: 

- BBC Bitesize – Offers clear, child-friendly lessons, videos and quizzes linked to the National Curriculum, covering a wide range of historical topics and time periods. 

- National Geographic Kids – Provides engaging articles, videos and images about ancient civilisations, significant people and world history. 

- Horrible Histories – A fun and memorable way for children to learn about the past through games, videos and humour. 

- The British Museum – Explore artefacts and collections online, with interactive resources that bring ancient cultures and historical periods to life. 

- English Heritage – Offers virtual tours, videos and historical information about castles, monuments and important sites across England. 

- Time Explorer – Interactive timelines and activities that help children understand chronology and how different periods fit together. 

 

Meet the Subject Leader

Meet the subject leader