History
Intent
At Brandesburton Primary School, our History curriculum develops pupils’ understanding of the past and how it shapes the present.
Through a knowledge-rich curriculum, pupils develop empathy for people in different historical periods and explore the causes and consequences of significant events.
As a rural village school, our curriculum broadens pupils’ awareness of Britain’s diverse history and its place within a wider global narrative.
We follow a near-to-far approach. Pupils begin with personal and local history before studying wider national and global events.
Our location provides valuable opportunities for local historical learning, with visits to York and Hull helping pupils connect national events to regional history.
Historical knowledge is organised around four recurring concepts:
- Ordinary Lives
- Conflict & Invasion
- Power and Monarchy
- Economy and Technological Advancement
Pupils also develop disciplinary thinking through:
- Cause and Consequence
- Similarity and Difference
- Continuity and Change
- Significance
Implementation
History is taught through focused 6–7 week sequences each term.
Learning begins in EYFS with personal timelines and significant individuals before developing into chronological studies in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
Pupils regularly revisit timelines and historical vocabulary to strengthen understanding of chronology.
They investigate a range of historical sources including artefacts, photographs and written documents, learning to question reliability and perspective.
Enquiry-led learning encourages pupils to ask questions, interpret evidence and form historical judgements.
Visits to museums and historical sites provide authentic engagement with historical evidence.
Impact
Pupils develop secure knowledge of key historical periods, events and individuals.
They can place events chronologically, analyse historical sources and explain causes and consequences.
Children leave Brandesburton Primary School as curious historians who understand how the past influences the present and shapes the future.
