History is vital to a rich and broad primary education. It helps pupils to make sense of the present as well as the past, and to appreciate the complexity and diversity of human societies and development. A high-quality history education will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. Teaching should equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. History at St Michaels helps our pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.

Every year group builds upon the learning from prior year groups to ensure a depth of understanding and progression of skills.

There are seven key strands, which inform the structure and teaching of our history curriculum:

• Chronology

• Similarity and difference

• Cause and effect

• Significance Change

• Use of sources

• Communication of ideas. 

Teachers plan using the National Curriculum and cater for the varying needs of all learners, adapting activities where necessary and ensuring an appropriate level of challenge. 

Effective use of educational visits and visitors are planned to enrich and provide first-hand learning experiences for pupils. Teachers make the most of our location in one of the world’s greatest cities to organise trips to places such as the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and The London Transport Museum.