History at The Russell School helps our children to develop their skills of investigation and research in order to develop their understanding and knowledge of people and events in the past.

At The Russell School, we promote children’s historical understanding and stimulate a natural interest in the past. Our history curriculum inspires our children, enabling them to develop a curiosity and fascination about the history of Britain and its changes over time, together with its significant events and how they have influenced the wider world. It helps them to understand how the British system of democratic Government has developed and, in doing so, contributes to the citizenship education of our children.

We develop investigation skills by examining the diversity of societies and the relationship between different groups of people, as well as helping the children to find their own identity. This empowers them to understand society and their place within it, thus providing a clear sense of their own cultural heritage. 

Our children are encouraged to

• understand that history is about people and relates to the study of their development over time. It is an actual record of what has happened and why. A sense of chronology is taught through our innovative history curriculum and, as such, our children develop an understanding of their own place in history
• develop an awareness of change over time locally, nationally and internationally. At the same time, they understand how history has affected heritage, values and the present way of life
• gain knowledge and skills, through hands on experiences and educational visits
• understand that it is through history that we analyse and interpret the wider world and understand how Britain has been shaped by events, people and time
• make connections, ask questions, think critically, weigh up the evidence and develop historical perspective and judgement through evaluation and presentation

Our engaging history curriculum is underpinned by The National Curriculum, our Imaginative Learning Projects and our strong system of school values, thus supporting a cohesive structure for inclusive learning.

In Key Stage One children begin to discover how their lives are different to those of people in the past. They start to develop a sense of chronology and to look at how different sources of evidence and artifacts can help them to discover the past. In Year One, children study history through exciting projects such as 'School Days' (learning about schools in the past and the history of their own school), 'Moon Zoom' (finding out about the lives of significant individuals such as Neil Armstrong) and 'Bright Lights, Big City' (The Great Fire of London). In Year Two, children again study history through our Imaginative Learning Projects including 'Land Ahoy' (finding out about the lives of significant individuals such as Grace Darling), 'Towers, Tunnels and Turrets' (significant historical events beyond their living memory) and 'Movers and Shakers' (important historical figures who have changed peoples' lives).

In Key Stage Two, children start to investigate past societies and consider how people’s opinions of the past may vary. They learn about change and continuity in the local area and use different sources of information to help them investigate the past. They also learn that the past can be interpreted in different ways. In Year Three, our study of history includes Ancient Greece ('Gods and Mortals'), changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age ('Tribal Tales') and the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain ('Emperors and Empires'). In Year Four, we look at the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings and their influences on Britain ('Invasion'), the Norman conquest for England to the time of Edward the Confessor ('1066') and begin to investigate the first three ancient civilisations and their achievements ('Ancient Civilisations').

In Upper Key Stage Two, our historical studies develop greater depth. In Year Five, we continue our study of ancient civilisations with an in-depth study of Ancient Egypt ('Pharaohs'), a study of 14th Century Britain ('Peasants, Princes and Pestilence') and the effects of the Tudors on 16th Century Britain ('Off With Her Head!'). This learning continues in Year Six where we complete in-depth investigations of the First and Second World Wars ('Britain at War' and 'A Child's War'). We also learn about the history of the slave trade and explore Britain's role in the causes and consequences of colonisation ('Maafa').

Progression of Knowledge and Skills in History

EYFS Knowledge and Skills in Understanding the World