Curriculum Aims

Kapow Primary’s History scheme of work aims to inspire pupils to become curious and analytical thinkers with a broad understanding of the past – in other words, to think like historians. The intention is for pupils to develop the confidence to question and investigate evidence, explore different perspectives and build informed interpretations of events, people and societies.

The scheme aims to build pupils’ awareness of how History shapes identities, cultures and communities over time. The goal is to inspire them to become reflective, active citizens who can draw on historical understanding to make sense of the present and contribute thoughtfully to the future.

The scheme supports teachers in developing their subject knowledge and skills, enabling them to confidently deliver engaging, well-informed lessons. The curriculum is designed to be both accessible and ambitious, ensuring all pupils’ participation and achievement.

5 Strands

The five strands

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.

Inclusion and diversity

Kapow Primary’s History scheme is designed to reflect a broad range of voices, experiences and perspectives.

• Units include stories of significant individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Representation and inclusion are embedded through enquiry questions, source selection, case studies and classroom discussion.
• Where appropriate, the legacy of colonialism and its impact on historical events and narratives are explored.
• The scheme’s visual and textual content is inclusive and representative of diverse people and histories, challenging stereotypes and outdated ideologies.
• Within sensitive units, questions are included to support and reflect pupils’ lived experiences and backgrounds.

The Kapow Primary History scheme supports pupils in appreciating the complexity of people’s lives, the diversity of societies and the evolving relationships between different groups across time.

Impact

Formative

Kapow Primary History lessons include ongoing assessment opportunities, such as questioning, retrieval practice and interactive activities.

These enable teachers to assess understanding in real time and adapt their teaching accordingly.

Summative

Each unit provides an Assessment quiz and Knowledge catcher, which allow teachers to measure pupils’ understanding at key points.

These tools help gauge how well pupils have retained key knowledge and skills over time.

Adaptive Teaching

The Kapow Primary 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, Kapow Primary 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.