Weston Village Primary SchoolHistory
Our Vision
At Weston Village Primary School, we believe that history should ignite curiosity about the past and help our pupils understand how events, people and places have shaped the world we live in today. Our carefully designed history curriculum encourages children to think critically, ask perceptive questions and develop perspective and judgement.
By learning about diverse civilisations, influential figures and significant events from local, British and world history, pupils gain a deeper understanding of change, continuity and cause and consequence over time. Our approach helps children develop a strong sense of identity and fosters a respect for different cultures and heritages.
At Weston, we empower every child to Be the Best They Can Be. Our Secrets of Success ethos is woven through our history lessons, encouraging pupils to become thoughtful, reflective learners who enjoy delving into the past to understand the present.
Intent
Our history curriculum provides all children with a broad and balanced understanding of the past—locally, nationally and globally. It is designed to:
Develop pupils’ chronological understanding, sequencing key historical events and periods.
Build historical knowledge of different civilisations, people and events that have shaped the world.
Encourage pupils to ask meaningful questions, think critically and evaluate sources of evidence.
Promote an understanding of different perspectives and interpretations of the past.
Make meaningful connections between past and present.
Celebrate diversity through the study of different cultures, traditions and historical narratives.
Inclusion is at the heart of our curriculum. Every child, regardless of background or need, accesses an engaging, inspiring and supportive history education. We adapt provision to ensure all learners can succeed and feel valued.
Implementation
History is taught through engaging, enquiry-based units which follow a clear progression of skills and knowledge from Early Years through to Year 6. Our curriculum follows a two-year rolling programme to ensure coverage and progression for mixed-year classes, with topics revisited and built upon over time.
Our curriculum covers:
Chronology: Understanding timelines, sequencing events and recognising periods in history.
Knowledge and Understanding of Events, People and Changes: Exploring key historical figures, events and societies.
Interpretation and Enquiry: Evaluating sources and evidence, considering different viewpoints.
Organisation and Communication: Presenting historical findings through discussion, writing and creative projects.
Pupils develop their historical understanding through hands-on experiences, visits to historical sites, handling artefacts, role-play and storytelling. Lessons focus on developing curiosity, historical thinking and respectful debate.
Our Curriculum in Action
EYFS (Sparrows)
Our youngest learners explore the concept of time and change through personal and family history. They investigate how things were different in the past, including transport, schools and jobs. Through stories, artefacts and role play, they begin to develop an understanding of how people lived long ago.
Key Stage 1 (Robins and Puffins)
Children study significant individuals, including Florence Nightingale and Neil Armstrong, and events such as The Great Fire of London and The Gunpowder Plot. They explore changes in toys and transport over time and compare life in the past with the present day. Local history is introduced through the Great Fire of Nantwich.
Lower Key Stage 2 (Kingfishers, Blackbirds and Magpies)
Pupils delve into Britain's past with studies of the Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings. They explore themes such as crime and punishment and the development of the railways in Crewe. Local studies support children in understanding their own historical heritage.
Upper Key Stage 2 (Owls and Eagles)
Older pupils study ancient civilisations including the Ancient Egyptians, Ancient Greece, the Maya and Benin Kingdoms. They explore major British historical themes such as leisure and entertainment in the 20th century, and significant events like World War II. Pupils develop their understanding of continuity and change, cause and consequence and significance.
Enrichment and Wider Opportunities
At Weston, history is brought to life through exciting enrichment opportunities, including:
Visits to museums, historical sites and local landmarks such as Chester and Nantwich.
Workshops with historians and local experts.
Whole-school events such as Remembrance Day and Black History Month.
Immersive days where children experience life in different historical periods, such as Roman Day and Viking Day.
Opportunities to handle historical artefacts and replicas.
Our history learning extends beyond the classroom to foster a lifelong interest in the past.
Assessment
We assess history through a combination of formative and summative approaches:
Ongoing assessments during lessons through questioning, discussion and retrieval practice.
Use of knowledge organisers and quizzes to support and assess key facts and vocabulary.
Written and creative outcomes in history books, including timelines, reports and historical narratives.
Pupil voice activities and discussions to gauge understanding and enthusiasm.
Termly assessments to monitor progress against key learning objectives.
Our subject leader, Mr Robinson, monitors the impact of our history curriculum through work scrutiny, lesson observations and pupil conferencing. This ensures high standards and consistency across the school.
Inclusion
History at Weston is for everyone. We ensure that all pupils, including those with SEND, can fully engage in history learning through:
Carefully adapted resources and scaffolding.
Additional adult support where needed.
Opportunities for practical and visual learning.
Celebrating and valuing every child’s contribution to historical discussions and activities.
Our inclusive approach ensures all children can develop a deep and meaningful understanding of the past.
Pupil Voice
“I loved learning about the Great Fire of London—we even made our own houses and set them on fire to see how quickly it spread!” – Year 2 pupil
“The Ancient Egyptians were fascinating. I couldn’t believe they used to write with pictures!” – Year 5 pupil
“World War II was really interesting. We learnt about evacuation and rationing and even had an air raid drill!” – Year 6 pupil
Subject Leadership
Mr Robinson, our History Subject Leader, is passionate about providing a rich and inspiring history curriculum for all pupils at Weston Village Primary School. He ensures staff have access to high-quality resources and CPD, leads regular monitoring and evaluation, and champions history across the school.
Want to Know More?
Take a look at our:
History Policy
History Long Term Plan