Winshill Village
History
Subject Leader: Miss G. Tomlinson
“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it”.
Winston Churchill
Vision
At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, we intend to inspire children to become curious and creative thinkers through our progressive curriculum. We aim for children to leave Winshill with the tools required for their transition into KS3 and knowledge of local and national history and history of the wider world. This is achieved through the opportunity for children to think critically, ask questions and be able to explain and analyse historical evidence. Our curriculum allows the children to build an awareness of the how significant events and individuals in history have impacted the world they live in today. We hope to encourage pupils, no matter their background or starting point, to aspire to be keen historians who motivate, challenge and construct their own historical enquiries.
Aims and Goals
At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, our History curriculum aims to develop:
Knowledge and Understanding: To ensure that pupils acquire a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world.
Historical Skills: To develop historical enquiry skills, including the ability to ask questions, consider evidence, and make informed judgements.
Cultural Awareness: To foster an appreciation of our diverse heritage and that of others, encouraging respect for cultural differences.
Critical Thinking: To cultivate a sense of identity and historical perspective, enabling pupils to develop their own views and initiate discussions based on evidence.
Curriculum
At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, our History curriculum is designed to be diverse, creative, and engaging, inspiring curiosity and encouraging children to think critically about the past. We want every child to develop both:
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Substantive knowledge – a strong understanding of people, events, and ideas from the past.
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Disciplinary knowledge – an understanding of how historians investigate the past and construct historical claims, arguments, and accounts.
All lessons are carefully planned and sequenced using KAPOW to ensure progression across the school. In the Early Years, History is introduced through continuous provision, while in KS1 and KS2, lessons follow a consistent structure: retrieval practice, new learning, independent activity, and a plenary. Children are also given time to develop their oracy skills, discussing, questioning, and sharing their ideas about the past.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
In the Early Years, History is taught through the Past and Present strand of the EYFS framework. Children reflect on their own experiences, explore photos and objects from the past, and look for similarities and differences between life now and in earlier times. They also compare characters from stories set in the past, including historical figures. By the end of Reception, children understand the concept of past and present and can talk about the lives of people they know as well as those they have learned about through stories.
Key Stage 1
In KS1, children begin to build a chronological understanding and develop an awareness of the past. They explore events beyond living memory that have shaped society, such as the history of flight, and study the lives of significant individuals, including monarchs and explorers. Children also begin to understand how historians work and use a variety of sources to find out about the past.
Key Stage 2
In KS2, children develop a more secure chronological knowledge of British, local, and world history. They establish clear narratives across periods studied and are encouraged to think critically about historical sources, considering continuity, change, similarity, difference, and significance. Topics include the Stone Age to Iron Age, the Roman Empire, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, World War II, Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, and the Mayan civilisation. This progression allows children to make meaningful links across time and place, deepening their understanding of how the past shapes the present.
Cross-Curricular
At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, we believe History should not be taught in isolation. Wherever possible, we create cross-curricular links that enrich learning and help children make meaningful connections across subjects. For example, pupils may write descriptive narratives in English based on historical events, use mathematics to explore timelines and chronology, study how geography influenced the development of ancient civilisations, or produce artwork inspired by significant historical figures and periods.
This whole-curriculum approach not only deepens pupils’ understanding of the past but also enhances their engagement, creativity, and retention of knowledge.
Documents and Useful Links
