History
At Graven Hill Primary and Preschool, we believe that a high‑quality history education helps children to understand the world they live in by exploring the past. History inspires curiosity, develops a sense of identity and helps pupils make sense of change over time — in their own lives, their community and the wider world.
Our history curriculum is designed to spark children’s interest and imagination, encouraging them to ask questions, explore evidence and develop a growing understanding of how the past influences the present. Through studying people, events and everyday life in different periods, children begin to appreciate the complexity of human experience and the diversity of societies and cultures.
History has strong links with literacy, geography and personal development. It supports language development, critical thinking and empathy, helping children to express ideas clearly, listen to different viewpoints and form their own reasoned conclusions.
Our History Curriculum
The core of our history curriculum is chronology, enquiry and interpretation. Children are taught to develop an understanding of:
- The difference between the past and the present
- Key events and people from different periods
- How life has changed over time
- Why people acted as they did in the past
Learning is carefully sequenced so that children gradually build a chronological framework, allowing them to place events and people in context and make meaningful connections between different periods of history.
Historical Skills and Enquiry
Alongside historical knowledge, pupils are taught the skills historians use to investigate the past. These include:
- Asking and answering historical questions
- Using sources such as photographs, artefacts, stories and simple documents
- Identifying similarities and differences between time periods
- Explaining why events happened and what their impact was
Children are encouraged to think critically, discuss ideas and justify their opinions using evidence. Through this process, they learn that history is not just about facts, but about interpretation, perspective and understanding.
From Personal History to the Wider World
Historical learning at Graven Hill begins with what children know best — their own lives and experiences. Pupils explore personal and family history, helping them to understand concepts such as memory, change and continuity.
From this starting point, children move on to learning about significant people, events and periods in Britain and beyond. This approach helps them to develop a secure sense of time, while broadening their understanding of different societies, beliefs and ways of life.
Developing Historical Understanding and Identity
Through history, children learn how the past has shaped the world they live in today. They explore how communities have developed, how ideas and technologies have changed, and how individuals have made a difference.
This learning supports children in developing empathy, respect and a sense of identity, while also encouraging them to reflect on the challenges people faced in the past and how these compare to life today.
Preparing Children for the Future
Our history curriculum ensures that children leave Graven Hill with:
- A growing chronological understanding of the past
- Curiosity and enthusiasm for learning about history
- Strong questioning, discussion and reasoning skills
- The ability to use evidence to form conclusions
- An understanding of how the past shapes the present
By combining knowledge, enquiry and thoughtful discussion, our history curriculum enables children to become confident, reflective learners who can engage with the past — and use that understanding to make sense of the world around them.