History
Intent
Intent
At Bearbrook Primary School, our History curriculum—delivered through the Kapow Primary scheme—reflects our commitment to inspire, nurture, and achieve. We aim to foster a love of learning by encouraging curiosity, creativity, and a deepening understanding of the past, in line with our school vision to empower all pupils to become thoughtful, informed and active members of society.
Our History curriculum inspires children to become curious and critical thinkers who can explore local, national and global history with confidence. Pupils are encouraged to ask questions, investigate historical evidence, and think analytically about how past events and people have shaped the present.
Through engaging and inclusive lessons, pupils develop a secure chronological understanding, make connections across time periods, and explore key concepts such as power, invasion, settlement and migration, empire, civilisation, religion, trade, and society. These themes not only bring history to life but also align with our school values of respect, responsibility, and resilience, helping pupils to appreciate the complexity of human experiences and learn from the past.
At Bearbrook, we value diversity and empathy. Our History curriculum supports pupils in understanding different cultures and perspectives, recognising how societies have evolved, and reflecting on the consequences of past actions. This encourages a deeper respect for others and promotes social understanding—both essential for life in modern Britain.
Our History provision meets the National Curriculum’s end of key stage expectations and supports Early Years pupils through developmentally appropriate activities that build foundational knowledge and understanding of the world around them.
Ultimately, History at Bearbrook equips our pupils with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to become informed individuals, capable of shaping a better future while learning from the past.
Implementation
Implementation
In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), our History provision is closely linked to the Development Matters framework. Two dedicated units support children in developing their understanding of time, change, and the world around them. These units include a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities, which can be adapted by teachers to complement class themes and interests.
In Key Stage 1 and 2, learning is structured around enquiry-based questions, encouraging pupils to become active historians. Using the enquiry cycle—Question, Investigate, Interpret, Evaluate and Conclude, Communicate—children explore historical topics in depth, building critical thinking and reasoning skills.
Throughout the curriculum, pupils develop key disciplinary concepts, including:
- Change and continuity
- Cause and consequence
- Similarities and differences
- Historical significance
- Interpretation of the past
- Use of sources and evidence
These concepts are revisited in different contexts across local, British and world history, helping pupils understand how historians construct knowledge and make informed judgements. As children progress, they are supported in designing and carrying out their own historical enquiries using a wide range of sources.
We also explore key substantive concepts—such as power, trade, invasion, settlement, and civilisation—which are introduced in Key Stage 1, explored in Lower Key Stage 2, and revisited in Upper Key Stage 2. This spiral curriculum ensures that pupils continually build on prior knowledge and deepen their understanding over time.
To inspire pupils further and link learning to the real world, History in Action videos introduce them to professionals working in history and heritage fields—including historians, archaeologists, curators, and educators—who share their experiences and passion for the subject.
Lessons are hands-on, engaging and thoughtfully structured to include both disciplinary and substantive content. Each lesson builds on prior learning and provides opportunities for all children to succeed, with clear guidance on adapting and extending learning to meet individual needs. Knowledge organisers support pupils in securing key facts, vocabulary and concepts to strengthen long-term understanding.
We believe that confident teaching comes from strong subject knowledge. Each unit supports staff with clear learning objectives, background information, and potential misconceptions, ensuring that all teachers—regardless of their experience—can deliver high-quality history lessons that inspire curiosity and a love of the subject.
