Intent 

At St Joseph’s Infant and Junior School, our History curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity, foster a love of learning, and help every child flourish and fulfil their God‑given potential. We aim to equip pupils with a secure understanding of the past, enabling them to make meaningful connections between historical events, people and societies. Through carefully sequenced topics, we ensure children develop strong chronological awareness, a rich and accurate historical vocabulary, and the skills needed to question, investigate and interpret evidence. Our curriculum seeks to broaden pupils’ perspectives by exploring diverse cultures, significant civilisations and key moments in local, national and global history. Above all, we intend to nurture thoughtful, reflective learners who recognise how the past has shaped the world today and who approach history with curiosity, respect and an open mind.  

Implementation 

Our History curriculum is carefully designed to build on the key historical skills introduced in Early Years and developed progressively throughout the key stages. In Early Years, children begin by exploring the concept of time, comparing the past and present through stories, discussions and their own personal histories. In Key Stage 1, this understanding deepens as pupils learn about significant individuals and important national and global events that have shaped society. As children move into Key Stage 2, they study a broad range of historical periods—from the Stone Age to the modern day—deepening their chronological awareness, comparing and contrasting life across different eras, and strengthening their historical enquiry skills through the investigation of a wide range of sources and artefacts. Historical vocabulary is carefully woven throughout each unit to support pupils in understanding the distinct features of the periods studied and to enable them to articulate their learning with confidence. These key skills are revisited, refined and extended year on year, ensuring a coherent and well‑sequenced learning journey. To further enrich their understanding, pupils take part in a variety of hands‑on learning experiences including educational visits, workshops, visitors, and opportunities to handle real artefacts and high‑quality resources. Across all year groups, key historical skills are explicitly taught within each topic and revisited during the year to ensure secure understanding and progression. 

Impact

The impact of our History curriculum at St Joseph’s Infant and Junior School is that children leave us as knowledgeable, thoughtful and reflective young historians. Through the consistent development of chronological understanding, accurate vocabulary, and enquiry-based skills, pupils are able to make meaningful connections between historical periods and recognise how the past influences life today. Their curiosity is nurtured through rich learning experiences, enabling them to question, investigate and draw reasoned conclusions with increasing confidence. As a result, children develop a broad and secure understanding of significant events, people and cultures in local, national and global history. By the end of Key Stage 2, they are equipped with the knowledge, skills and perspective needed for future learning — prepared to approach the world with curiosity, respect and an appreciation of the diverse histories that shape our society.