Welcome to the History area of our website!

The subject leader for History at St James' is Mr Barker.

Our Christian Vision for History:

History at St James’ aims to inspire pupils to be curious, critical thinkers by developing a deep understanding of local, British, and world history. The teaching of History develops an inquiry-based approach, helping pupils to connect historical concepts over time. Pupils develop a strong sense of chronology, building an understanding that helps them place people and events, connecting the past with the present.

Engaging pupils with a relevant, exciting and challenging History curriculum will inspire curiosity, and it will help to prepare them for an adult life in the 21^st century. History helps children to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as the challenges of their time; It develops skills of critical thinking, which means making reasoned judgements that are logical and well-thought-out and not merely accepting arguments and conclusions as they are presented but having a healthy, discerning and questioning attitude about new information. 

History supports children to appreciate that all knowledge is socially constructed and its objectivity and reliability is therefore open to challenge and question through asking perceptive questions, weighing evidence, sifting arguments and developing perspective and judgement. 

The History curriculum provides a sense of identity and belonging on a personal, cultural, national and global level as learners come to appreciate the diversity of human experience and consequently understand more about themselves and as members of society.

Children will be able to understand core concepts and, most notably, cause and consequence, similarity and difference, continuity and change, change and progress/regression, significance, evidence, chronology, empathy, context, diversity, perspective, interconnectivity and validity which have broad relevance and significance in the modern world.

All of these skills help to equip children with lifelong skills that they will use during and beyond their school life. The teaching of History is done with the scriptures in mind and supporting children to use their skills and knowledge will help them to flourish in many areas. By engaging our children in investigating questions about people and events in the past, it helps them to better understand their lives today, the contested nature of knowledge and prepares them for the future as more informed citizens.

Snapshot of History

We are now following the Kapow History scheme of work. This comprehensive learning and teaching programme provides a modern, relevant and intellectually challenging history curriculum which also makes meaningful and rigorous links to other subjects. Children explore and understand the key events, people, ideas and societies of the past, by understanding how historians find out about and interpret the past. Pupils pose and answer historical questions using evidence, developing and understanding the passage of time, using language related to chronology. History begins in the EYFS and throughout your child's time at St James' they will explore a range of important key questions to help them to become historians.

Where Does History Begin at St James'?

Reception follow the EYFS framework, which is structured very differently to the national curriculum. It is organised across seven areas of learning rather than subject areas. The most relevant area of learning linked to History is Understanding the World.

In EYFS, History is taught through exploration, curiosity and first-hand experiences that help children make sense of themselves and the world around them. Pupils begin to develop an understanding of their immediate environment through play, outdoor learning, stories, maps, photographs and discussion. Children learn to talk about the lives of people around them, their roles in society, and recognise similarities and differences between things in the past and now. Children explore their own history, such as recalling personal events, family traditions, and changes in their lives since they were a baby.

Through meaningful experiences and rich vocabulary, children are encouraged to ask questions, notice similarities and differences between the past and present, and develop an awareness of themselves, making links to passages of time. History in EYFS lays the foundations for children to become inquisitive and observant historians.