History

Curriculum Map

Progression in Skills & Knowledge

Intent

At RHS, we believe history should spark curiosity and wonder. It helps children understand how the world that once was has shaped the world we live in today.

Our curriculum in history gives children a strong foundation of knowledge about people, places and events from the past, from ancient civilisations and British monarchs to world-changing ideas and movements.

Children learn not just what happened, but why it happened and why it matters. They explore big ideas such as empire, power and civilisation, while developing the skills of real historians: asking questions, looking for evidence, and thinking critically about different viewpoints.

Each content-unit builds on what children have learned before, helping them see history as one big story: the story of Britain and the wider world.

Implementation

Our history curriculum is taught through engaging, carefully sequenced topics that bring the past to life. Children study history in a chronological order, starting with early civilisations and prehistoric Britain before moving on to the Romans, Tudors, Victorians, and key events of the modern era. Along the way, they also explore fascinating world history topics such as Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Baghdad c.900 CE, and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, using real historical sources such as photos, artefacts and documents.Teachers use timelines to understand when and why things happened, discuss and debate ideas to allow pupils to develop their own interpretations, and making links between local, British and world history, creating cross-curricular links with subjects like English and art.

Impact

By the time they leave RHS, children have a strong understanding of how history fits together and why it matters. They can think like historians, ask thoughtful questions, weighing up evidence and recognising that there’s more than one way to interpret the past.

Our pupils develop curiosity, confidence and independence, ready to build on their knowledge in secondary school and beyond. Most importantly, they leave with a sense of identity, an appreciation of how the past shapes the present, and a lasting enthusiasm for exploring the world’s stories.