History

History at Maple Court Academy

Intent:

At Maple Court Academy, our History Curriculum is designed to help pupils build a strong and meaningful understanding of the past—locally, nationally and across the wider world. We want children to appreciate how people lived, how societies have changed over time, and how history continues to shape the world they live in today.

Our curriculum aims to spark curiosity and inspire pupils to ask questions, explore ideas and develop a real love for history. Through the study of British and local history, alongside a wide range of global time periods and events, children develop important historical skills and knowledge. History is taught weekly, with each term focusing on a specific topic in depth. We also make meaningful links with other subjects to help children see how history connects to the wider curriculum.

Educational visits and hands-on workshops give pupils the chance to experience history in real-life contexts and step into the role of “Historians”. As they move through the school, children build on their understanding of key historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity and difference, and significance. These concepts help them make connections, ask thoughtful questions and develop their own historical enquiries.

A strong sense of chronology runs through all our topics—from the earliest civilisations to the present day—allowing pupils to develop a clear timeline of world events. In Key Stage 2, the curriculum is carefully sequenced so children can build on what they have learned in previous years, strengthening their understanding of how different periods and events fit together.

We encourage pupils to make links between local, regional, national and international history, and to explore cultural, economic, political, religious, military and social aspects of the past. By doing so, they gain a broader perspective of the world and a deeper understanding of their own place within it. Ultimately, we want children to see how the past has shaped today’s world—and how learning from history can empower them to help shape a better future.

The Subject Leader:

As History Lead, my role is to ensure that History is taught with enthusiasm, clarity and purpose across the academy. I am passionate about the subject, and I strive to share that passion with our pupils through engaging lessons and exciting learning opportunities.

My aim is for every child to leave Maple Court Academy with a strong understanding of the past and a genuine desire to keep exploring it. I want them to feel inspired by the stories, people and events that have shaped our world—and to carry that curiosity with them as lifelong learners.

The curriculum:

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EYFS:

Nursery look at different nursery rhymes, old and new, what happens on a farm during Spring, different animals and different locations.

Reception Look at different locations and how we get there now and, in the past, squirrels and where they hide their nuts and lots of other exciting things.

Assessment for learning:

At Maple Court Academy, we check children’s understanding throughout every lesson so we can spot what they’re confident with and where they may need a little extra support. This helps teachers plan the next steps and make sure every child keeps moving forward. We build regular retrieval practice into lessons, giving pupils the chance to revisit and strengthen what they’ve learned. Activities like whiteboard tasks, partner talk and questioning help us see how well children are progressing. At the end of each unit, children complete a short quiz covering key learning from that term. This helps us celebrate what they remember and identify anything that may need revisiting.

Pupil voice: