History
Subject Vision
At Deptford Park, we want all children to become curious and analytical thinkers with a broad understanding of the past – in other words, to think like historians. The intention is for pupils to develop the confidence to question and investigate evidence, explore different perspectives and build informed interpretations of events, people and societies.
Our teaching aims to build pupils’ awareness of how History shapes identities, cultures and communities over time. The goal is to inspire them to become reflective, active citizens who can draw on historical understanding to make sense of the present and contribute thoughtfully to the future.
How do children learn History at Deptford Park?
We teach using the Kapow Primary History scheme, which is based on the National Curriculum. It uses a structured approach to learning where children build knowledge and skills over time. Within each unit, children revisit prior learning and then develop and extend their understanding. This supports consolidation, deepens knowledge and builds confidence, while continuing to challenge pupils to think further.
The curriculum is built around four key strands which run throughout all year groups:
- Chronological awareness – using the Kapow timeline to support children’s understanding
- Disciplinary concepts – knowledge about how historians investigate the past, for example around change and continuity, similarities and differences, cause and consequence
- Historical enquiry – posing historical questions; gathering, organising and evaluating evidence; evaluating and drawing conclusions, and communicating findings
- Substantive concepts – knowledge about the past around people, ideas and events, and key concepts, such as ‘empire’, ‘monarchy’ or ‘invasion and settlement’
These strands ensure that children develop both their understanding of historical concepts and knowledge, and the skills needed to investigate and think like historians.
New learning is often introduced at the beginning of each key stage and is then revisited and applied in later years. This allows children to build on prior knowledge and strengthen their understanding over time. As a result, some year groups may have a greater focus on new content, while others focus more on applying and deepening knowledge.
How do we know what children have learned in History?
- Questioning
- Pupil learning reviews
- Learning walks
- Quizzing and retrieval practice
- Feedback and marking
- Progress in books matches the curriculum intent
- Formative assessment
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