”We are not makers of history, we are made by history.” – Martin Luther King
At Marton Manor Primary School, our vision for the History curriculum is rooted in a profound commitment to fostering a rich and enduring understanding of the past. Through an engaging and high-quality teaching approach, we aim to ignite curiosity, stimulate critical thinking, and cultivate a profound appreciation for the significant people and events that have shaped both Britain and the wider world. We believe that by imparting historical knowledge and essential skills, our students will develop a sense of identity, heritage, and a broader understanding of the complexities of life.
Our intent for History at Marton Manor
At Marton Manor Primary School we strive to ensure all pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of not only Britain’s past but that of the wider world. Through high-quality teaching we aim to stimulate children’s curiosity about the past and ensure they develop a deep understanding of significant people and events. Teaching will also equip children with key skills such as asking questions, thinking critically, evaluating evidence, developing perspective and forming arguments and judgements. We believe that the study of history makes a valuable contribution to their understanding of all aspects of life giving a sense of identity and heritage.
The History curriculum at Marton Manor makes full use resources within the immediate and wider local area enabling children to develop a deep understanding of the rich history of their locality. Topics are informed by the National Curriculum (2014) and are sensitive to children’s interests, as well as the context of the local area. The History curriculum at Marton Manor is carefully planned and structured to ensure that children develop a good chronological understanding and that current learning is linked to previous learning.
Aims of the History Curriculum:
To develop an interest in the past and an appreciation of human achievements and aspirations;
- To understand the values of our society;
- To learn about the major issues and events in the history of our own country and of the world and how these events may have influenced one another;
- To develop knowledge of chronology within which the children can organise their understanding of the past;
- To enable children to understand significant events in British history and to appreciate how things have changed over time.
- Children develop a range of skills and abilities – particularly those related to finding out about the past, explaining what happened and what people then and now think about what happened.
We follow the National Curriculum at Marton Manor
EYFS
Pupils are taught to:
- Talk about the lives of the people around them and their roles in society.
- Know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.
- Understand the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling.
Key stage 1
Pupils are taught about:
- Changes within living memory – where appropriate, these should be used to reveal aspects of change in national life
- Events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally [for example, the Great Fire of London, the first aeroplane flight or events commemorated through festivals or anniversaries]
- The lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements, some should be used to compare aspects of life in different periods.
- Significant historical events, people and places in their own locality.
Key stage 2
Pupils are taught about:
- Changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.
- The Roman Empire and its impact on Britain.
- Britain’s settlement by Anglo-Saxons and Scots.
- The Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the Kingdom of England to the time of Edward the Confessor.
- A local history study.
- A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066.
- The achievements of the earliest civilizations – an overview of where and when the first civilizations appeared and a depth study of one of the following: Ancient Sumer, The Indus Valley, Ancient Egypt, The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China
- Ancient Greece – a study of Greek life and achievements and their influence on the western world
- A non-European society that provides contrasts with British history
How the History Curriculum is designed at Marton Manor
At Marton Manor Primary School, our History curriculum nurtures curiosity about the past and helps children develop a deep understanding of how people, events, and societies have shaped the world. Built around key substantive concepts and disciplinary knowledge, our curriculum equips children with the knowledge and skills to think critically, analyse evidence, and make connections across time.
Below, you will find an overview of our curriculum, outlining the key substantive concepts and the role of disciplinary knowledge in developing historical understanding.
