History: Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent

At Smallthorne Primary Academy, History forms a vital strand of our Character and Arts Curriculum, helping children to understand how the past has shaped the world they live in today. We believe that learning about history nurtures curiosity, empathy, and respect, enabling pupils to appreciate the stories, struggles and achievements of people from all walks of life.

Our intent is to bring the past to life through creative and character-rich learning experiences that inspire children to think like historians – questioning evidence, exploring different perspectives, and forming their own reasoned conclusions.

We aim for all pupils to:

• Develop a secure chronological understanding of key periods, events, and individuals that have influenced Britain and the wider world.
• Make connections between local, national and global history, including the rich heritage of Stoke-on-Trent.
• Understand cause and consequence, similarity and difference, and continuity and change across time.
• Build resilience, curiosity, empathy and critical thinking through enquiry and interpretation.
• Express their historical understanding creatively through art, drama, writing, and digital media, strengthening both knowledge and character.

Implementation

History is taught through a carefully sequenced, topic-based approach that supports both knowledge progression and the development of historical skills from EYFS to Year 6. Each topic is rooted in enquiry, creativity, and character formation.

• Character-Led Enquiry: Each historical study begins with a key question that encourages curiosity, reflection and moral reasoning (e.g. “Was it fair?”, “How did they show courage?”, “What can we learn from them today?”).
• Chronological Understanding: Timelines are revisited regularly so pupils can make connections between periods and understand how events fit within a wider historical context.
• Local Heritage Links: Children explore how local history contributes to the national story, such as the Lidice link to Stoke-on-Trent, Reginald Mitchell and the Spitfire, and the city’s industrial pottery heritage.
• Arts Integration: The past is brought vividly to life through drama, storytelling, music, visual art and creative writing. Pupils might paint portraits of significant figures, perform historical re-enactments, or create museum-style exhibitions.
• Inclusive and Accessible: Learning is scaffolded so that all children can achieve success, including those with SEND or EAL, through visuals, artefacts, and experiential learning.
• Character and Values Development: History lessons foster values such as resilience, fairness, courage and integrity. Pupils reflect on what it means to show these qualities in past and present contexts.
• Cross-Curricular Links: History is connected to English, Geography, Art and PSHE, ensuring deep learning and reinforcing key skills across the curriculum.

Impact

By the time children leave Smallthorne Primary Academy, they will have developed:

• Secure Historical Knowledge: An understanding of key events, people and periods that have shaped Britain and the wider world.
• Critical and Reflective Thinking: The ability to question, analyse and interpret historical sources with curiosity and confidence.
• Character and Values: A deepened sense of respect, empathy, resilience and moral awareness through studying the triumphs and challenges of humanity.
• Cultural and Artistic Awareness: The ability to express understanding of history through creative outcomes that demonstrate imagination and insight.
• A Sense of Identity and Belonging: Recognition of their place within the story of Stoke-on-Trent, Britain and the world, inspired to make a positive difference in their own time.

Impact is measured through pupil voice, creative outcomes, assessment of historical enquiry and evidence in books and displays. The success of History teaching is evident in children who not only know about the past but learn from it – living out our school ethos to Smile, Strive, Shine as informed, thoughtful citizens of the future.