History
The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.
Theodore Roosevelt
Why history?
At RPS, we teach history to help children understand the world they live in by exploring the people, events, and ideas that have shaped it. History inspires curiosity and encourages children to ask thoughtful questions, think critically, and make connections between the past and the present.
History intent
An RPS child will develop an understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world and recognise how significant people or events affect society today. The children will learn to ask questions, think critically, analyse evidence, sift arguments, and develop judgements.
Key history knowledge and skills
History is taught to help children understand the past and how it has shaped the world they live in today. Our curriculum is designed to build a strong sense of chronology and develop children’s curiosity, critical thinking, and understanding of change over time.
Key Knowledge Includes:
- Learning about significant events, people, and periods in British and world history—from the Stone Age to the present day.
- Exploring ancient civilisations, empires, and non-European societies such as Ancient Egypt, the Romans, the Vikings, and the Mayans.
- Understanding key historical concepts like empire, civilisation, monarchy, democracy, and social change.
- Studying local history, including how Romsey and the surrounding area have changed over time
Key Skills Include:
- Developing chronological understanding by placing events and people in time order.
- Asking and answering historical questions using evidence from a range of sources such as artefacts, photographs, and written accounts.
- Understanding cause and consequence, similarity and difference, and change and continuity.
- Evaluating sources and recognising that history can be interpreted in different ways.
- Communicating ideas clearly through discussion, writing, drama, and creative projects.
How history is taught
History is brought to life through an engaging, enquiry-led approach that encourages children to think like historians. Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to help pupils build a strong sense of chronology, develop historical vocabulary, and understand how the past has shaped the world we live in today.
We use key enquiry questions to guide each unit, helping children to explore significant events, people, and civilisations through investigation, storytelling, and critical thinking. From Early Years to Year 6, pupils are supported to ask thoughtful questions, examine sources, and make connections across time periods. We place a strong emphasis on developing children’s understanding of timelines and historical concepts such as cause and consequence, change and continuity, and similarity and difference.
History Overview