In Key Stage 2 pupils will continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study. They will develop skills in noting connections, contrasts and trends over time and develop the appropriate use of historical terms. Pupils will regularly address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance. Skills in constructing informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information. Pupils will understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.

In Year 3, pupils develop a secure understanding of early civilisations and prehistoric Britain through the study of the Stone Age to Iron Age, Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece. The curriculum is carefully sequenced to build pupils’ chronological understanding, enabling them to make connections between different periods and identify similarities and differences across civilisations. Pupils explore how early humans lived and adapted over time, including changes in tools, settlements and daily life, before deepening their knowledge through the achievements of Ancient Egypt, such as writing systems, beliefs and the importance of the River Nile, and the legacy of Ancient Greece, including democracy, culture and philosophy. Through enquiry based learning, pupils use a range of sources to ask and answer questions about the past, developing key disciplinary skills such as interpreting evidence, understanding cause and consequence, and recognising the impact of historical change, providing a strong foundation for future historical learning. 

In Year 4, pupils extend their chronological understanding through the study of Ancient Benin, Roman Britain and the Viking Age. The curriculum is carefully sequenced to enable pupils to make connections between civilisations and their impact on Britain. Pupils explore themes such as settlement, invasion and legacy, considering how the Romans and Vikings shaped Britain, while also developing a broader understanding of non-European societies through their study of Benin. Through enquiry based learning, pupils analyse sources, investigate cause and consequence, and build a secure understanding of how historical knowledge is constructed. 

In Year 5, pupils deepen their historical understanding through the study of Ancient Carthage, the Tudor period and the Victorian era. The curriculum enables pupils to develop a secure chronological framework while exploring themes such as power, empire, and societal change. Pupils examine the rise and fall of civilisations, significant monarchs and the impact of industrialisation, using a range of sources to support enquiry and deepen their understanding of continuity and change over time. 

In Year 6, pupils engage with more complex historical themes through the study of the Zulu Kingdom, World War II and a local history study focused on the Royal Docks. Pupils develop a critical understanding of conflict, leadership and the impact of global events on local communities. Through the local study, pupils make meaningful connections between national history and their own locality, while continuing to build disciplinary skills through the evaluation of sources, understanding of significance and analysis of cause and consequence.