Intent

At Studham Village CE Academy, our History curriculum is designed to nurture curiosity, understanding and reflection, supporting the Church of England's Christian vision of enabling every child to live life in all its fullness (John 10:10).

Through our use of Kapow Primary, pupils are encouraged to think like historians by asking questions, investigating evidence and exploring different perspectives. Children learn about people, events and societies from the past, helping them to understand how history has shaped identities, cultures and communities over time.

Our History curriculum reflects our Christian values, particularly respect, courage, perseverance and justice. Pupils are taught to appreciate diversity, value the experiences of others and develop empathy and understanding. By learning from the past, children are supported to make sense of the present and to grow as thoughtful, responsible citizens who contribute positively to their community.

The curriculum is both ambitious and inclusive, ensuring that all pupils are supported to participate, achieve and flourish. Through engaging and well‑structured lessons, we aim to inspire a lifelong interest in the past and help our pupils develop the knowledge, skills and values they need for the future.

Based on the aims of the National curriculum, the following five strands have been identified, which run throughout the History curriculum:

• Topic knowledge.

• Chronological awareness.

• Substantive (abstract) concepts.

• Disciplinary concepts.

• Historical enquiry.

The History curriculum has been planned with these strands running through each unit, ensuring balanced coverage of the different areas of History and both substantive and disciplinary knowledge.

Substantive knowledge

This refers to the content within History learning; the knowledge of the past. Pupils study the key events, people and ideas from a variety of historical periods.

Disciplinary knowledge

This refers to a knowledge of how historians investigate the past and how they construct historical claims, arguments and accounts.

The History curriculum at Studham Village CE Academy supports Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development by encouraging pupils to:

• Explore different perspectives.

• Reflect on ethical issues.

• Collaborate with others.

• Appreciate cultural diversity through subject-specific content.

• Identify cause and effect.

Implementation

Our History scheme of work is designed to be fully adaptable for pupils with SEND. Every lesson includes an ‘Adaptive teaching’ section, providing clear guidance on how activities can be modified to meet the needs of all learners.

Children learn in a variety of ways. As such, history lessons include a range of strategies to support and challenge every pupil, such as:

Scaffolding – activities are designed with flexibility in mind, allowing for additional support or challenge where needed.

Multi-sensory approaches – lessons incorporate different elements to engage all learners.

Clear instructions and structured tasks – ensuring clarity and reducing cognitive load for pupils who benefit from additional support.

Opportunities for collaborative and independent learning – allowing pupils to work at their own pace while building confidence and independence.

By embedding adaptive teaching throughout, the scheme ensures that all pupils, regardless of their starting points, can access and succeed in their learning.

In addition, the step-by-step curriculum design supports pupils with SEND, avoiding sudden jumps in complexity at transition points and allowing for steady, manageable progression.