History at Alderbury & West Grimstead CE Primary School

Being a Historian is taught as part of our Curious City Curriculum, where children learn through rich, enquiry‑led experiences. Each year, pupils explore several enquiries where History is either the lead state of being or a supporting one. This approach helps children understand the past in meaningful, connected ways.

At AWGS, the teaching and learning of History focuses on enabling children to think as historians. Our curriculum is built on the National Curriculum programmes of study for Key Stages 1 and 2 and is structured around three core strands:

• Chronological Understanding

• Knowledge & Interpretation

• Historical Enquiry

What We Teach Historians to Do

Throughout their time at AWGS, pupils learn how to:

• Sequence events chronologically using dates and key periods

• Ask and answer questions to explore historical concepts

• Interpret events and understand that different versions of the same event may exist

• Identify continuity and change to understand how the world has developed

• Recognise causes of significant events and their consequences

• Compare similarities and differences across periods and relate them to their own lives

• Understand the significance of key events and their impact on the world

These skills help children develop a deep, reflective understanding of the past and how it shapes the present.

How We Bring History to Life

We provide a wide range of learning experiences to help children think, question and investigate like historians. These include:

• Educational visits in the local area and further afield

• Handling artefacts to explore different periods and cultures

• Using high‑quality resources to bring abstract concepts (e.g. Stone Age, Romans, Mayans) to life

• Linking learning to the wider community, helping pupils make meaningful connections

• Working with primary and secondary sources to develop critical thinking and interpretation skills