History

At Lingfield, we want every child to develop a deep understanding and appreciation of the past. Our history curriculum is centred around the concept of legacy, exploring how the lives of significant individuals, key events and civilisations continue to shape the world we live in today. Learning is also enriched through meaningful links to the rich history of our local area, helping children connect national and global events to their own community.

History is an enquiry-based subject and plays a central role in driving our Contexts for Learning across all year groups. Through the examination of high-quality texts, artefacts, meaningful school trips and visitors, children are given first-hand opportunities to explore what life was like in the past. Throughout their learning, children are encouraged to compare, contrast, analyse and evaluate historical periods and civilisations, developing secure disciplinary thinking.

In Early Years and Key Stage 1, children build early historical understanding through familiar concepts and experiences. They explore events within and beyond living memory, investigate significant individuals and begin to recognise change over time. These early experiences lay the groundwork for chronological thinking and historical comparison.

In Key Stage 2, history is taught in chronological order to support children’s understanding of development and influence over time. In Year 3, children study the Stone Age and Ancient Egypt. In Year 4, they examine Ancient Greece and Roman Britain. In Years 5 and 6, learning progresses through the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, the Maya civilisation, the Tudors and the Victorians. Through this structured progression, children deepen their understanding of cause and consequence, societal development and the enduring impact of historical change.

By the end of Key Stage 2, children demonstrate secure chronological knowledge, the ability to compare civilisations and a clear understanding of how historical legacies continue to shape modern life.