At Gedney Church End Primary Academy, we believe that History helps children to understand the past, make sense of the present and recognise how people, events and ideas have shaped the world in which they live. We want children to develop a genuine curiosity about the past and to understand that History involves not only knowing what happened, but also asking questions about how and why things changed and how we know about the past.

Historical learning begins in EYFS, where children develop their understanding of past and present through stories, memories, celebrations and familiar experiences. They begin to recognise that life changes over time and encounter the past through areas such as Memory Box, Crowns and Castles and Fire!. These experiences establish important foundations for children's developing understanding of chronology and change. 

Our History curriculum is carefully planned so that children's knowledge builds, connects and deepens over time. As they progress through the academy, children develop an increasingly secure sense of chronology and encounter significant people, events, societies and civilisations from different periods and places. They are encouraged to draw upon previous learning to make connections and develop their understanding of change, cause and consequence, significance and legacy.

In KS1, children begin to explore change over time and significant events and individuals. Their learning includes the Great Fire of London, the Norman invasion and individuals such as Amy Johnson, Helen Sharman and Mae Jemison who achieved significant firsts and influenced the world around them. As children move into KS2, their historical horizons broaden considerably. They investigate periods and civilisations including the Stone Age to Iron Age, Romans, Ancient Egypt and the Maya before extending their knowledge through Ancient Greece, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, the Victorians and the Second World War. 

Historical enquiry and evidence are important elements of our curriculum. Children are encouraged to ask questions about the past and use evidence to help them find answers. As they progress, they encounter an increasingly rich range of historical evidence, including artefacts, sites, timelines, maps and other historical sources, and use these to develop explanations about people, societies and events. Our curriculum includes opportunities to explore evidence from sites such as Skara Brae, Stonehenge and Flag Fen, investigate evidence relating to Ancient Egypt and the Maya, and use evidence and artefacts to develop understanding of Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Second World War Britain. 

Children also develop an understanding of why things happened, what changed and why particular people, events and developments matter. They investigate how invasion, settlement, leadership, belief, technological development, industry and conflict have influenced societies. Through studying the Roman Empire, for example, children consider its lasting impact on Britain, while their study of the Victorians explores how invention, industry and social change transformed Britain and influenced modern life. Ancient Greek learning considers how ideas and city-states continue to influence the wider world. 

Where meaningful, History connects purposefully with other areas of learning. Art, Design and Technology, Computing and other subjects provide opportunities for children to apply and deepen their understanding of historical contexts while continuing to develop the distinctive knowledge and skills of each subject. Roman learning provides a context for mosaics and chariot design in LKS2, while Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Second World War learning supports purposeful connections with textiles, structures, art and digital creation in UKS2.

Our curriculum also helps children recognise that history can be local, national and global. Children encounter civilisations and societies from across the wider world while developing a strong understanding of Britain's past. Where appropriate, they make connections with their own locality and region. This is particularly evident in UKS2, where children's study of the Second World War explores Lincolnshire's contribution to the Battle of Britain and the wider conflict, connecting a major global event with the history of their own region. 

Our SPARK values are reflected throughout History. Children develop Self-belief as they ask questions, contribute ideas and explain their thinking, and Perseverance as they investigate evidence and tackle increasingly complex questions about the past. Aspiration is fostered through encountering people whose achievements, ideas and actions have influenced history, while Respect and Kindness encourage children to consider the lives, beliefs, experiences and perspectives of people from different societies and periods.

Ultimately, we want children to leave Gedney Church End as curious, knowledgeable and thoughtful historians. We want them to develop a secure chronological understanding, make meaningful connections between different periods and use historical evidence to investigate and explain the past. Most importantly, we want children to recognise that the world in which we live has been shaped by the people, events, ideas and changes that came before us, and that understanding the past helps us to understand the present.