History

History Curriculum at Smallwood

At Smallwood Primary School, our History curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity and develop successful learners who can make meaningful connections between the past and present.

Our curriculum offers a rich journey through local, British, and world history, with skills intentionally building year-on-year to ensure a deep and lasting understanding of the subject. In the early years, children develop foundational historical concepts such as ‘living memory’ and begin using simple vocabulary to describe the passing of time. As they progress through the school, their historical skills evolve from basic chronological awareness and the use of primary sources to a coherent understanding of complex, interconnected global events. By the end of their primary education, students are equipped to analyse multiple, inter-related causes, evaluate the reliability and authenticity of diverse sources, and justify their own historical interpretations using evidence and reasoning.

To support this development, our history teaching is underpinned by the Smallwood Framework for Effective Learning and Teaching, which focuses on building a schema of knowledge by ensuring new content is always built upon prior learning. This pedagogical model utilises a structured process where teachers provide direct instruction to clarify new content and explicitly teach historical vocabulary. This is followed by guided instruction, where modelling is used to break down thinking processes, and finally independent practice where students are encouraged to take risks and apply their learning. By managing cognitive load and using retrieval strategies to recall prior knowledge, we support children's working memory and help them become confident, reflective historians who can independently apply their skills across different contexts