William Shrewsbury Primary School

History

Our Team

                                         

                                                  Mrs S Waters               Mrs N Horobin

A Journey Into History

Welcome to our fantastic world of History at William Shrewsbury Primary School.  Here we believe that history helps children to see where they fit in the “big story” of their family, community, country, and world.  When pupils explore different cultures, beliefs, and experiences from the past, they learn empathy and respect.  Children will understand cause and effect: actions have consequences.  Our pupils will find inspiration from stories of explorers, inventors and campaigners who made our world a different place to live in.

Our History curriculum is built around the idea that enquiry sits at the heart of learning. We encourage our young historians to be curious and to ask 'why?' and 'how?'. This approach allows children to develop critical thinking skills and to make connections between different historical concepts.

Throughout their historical learning at William Shrewsbury, the children will cover the following themes of historical learning:

  • Settlements (which group of people settled where and why)
  • Location (where the historical event(s) took place)
  • Key events (ordering key events, chronologically, on a timeline)
  • Beliefs (exploring the religious beliefs of people in that era of time)
  • Conflict (studying battles that resulted from invading communities)
  • Society (discovering what life was like in terms of how the area/country was ruled)
  • Culture and Pastimes (what people did in their leisure time)
  • Travel and Exploration (how people travelled around the world to find a better place to settle)
  • Food and Farming (how the land was used in settlements)

Throughout the spiral curriculum, children will re-visit these themes, making connections to and building upon their prior knowledge.

How History is taught at William Shrewsbury?

At William Shrewsbury, our History curriculum is designed to help our children understand
the changes over time, in our diverse past. We believe that a deep understanding of History
is built not just on knowledge, but on the ability to ask questions, think critically, and connect
with the past on a personal level.

Enquiry-Led Learning
Our approach is centred around the concept of enquiry. Each new History topic begins with
an overarching enquiry question. This question serves as the driving force for the entire
unit, guiding our students as they acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to formulate a
comprehensive answer by the end of the topic. This method empowers children to become
active learners, encouraging them to seek out information and build their understanding step
by step.


Developing Historians
From Year 2, we take this a step further. At the end of a unit, students often complete a
double-page written assessment. This is more than just a test; it's an opportunity for children to demonstrate their mastery of the topic by writing as historians. They are encouraged to use the rich historical vocabulary they have learned throughout the unit, showcasing their ability to articulate complex ideas with precision and confidence.

What children will be taught at William Shrewsbury

At William Shrewsbury Primary School, our History curriculum is designed to provide a
comprehensive and engaging exploration of the past, following the key principles of the
National Curriculum for England. We aim to equip children with a deep understanding of
Great Britain’s past and that of the wider world.


In Key Stage 1, pupils will develop an awareness of the past, using common words and
phrases relating to the passing of time. They will know where the people and events they
study fit within a chronological framework and identify similarities and differences between
ways of life in different periods. They will use a wide vocabulary of everyday historical terms.
They should ask and answer questions, choosing and using parts of stories and other
sources to show that they know and understand key features of events. They will understand
some of the ways in which we find out about the past and identify different ways in which it is
represented.


Moving into Key Stage 2, children will build upon their historical knowledge and skills and
study the following topics:

  • changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age
  • the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain
  •  Britain’s settlement by Anglo-Saxons and Scots
  •  the Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the Kingdom of England to the time of
    Edward the Confessor
  • a local history study
  •  a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
  • the achievements of the earliest civilizations – an overview of where and when the
    first civilizations appeared and a depth study of one of the following: Ancient Sumer;
    The Indus Valley; Ancient Egypt; The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China
  • Ancient Greece – a study of Greek life and achievements and their influence on the
    western world
  • a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history – one study chosen from: early Islamic civilization, including a study of Baghdad c. AD 900
  • Mayan civilization c. AD 900; Benin (West Africa) c. AD 900-1300.

Pupils will study the lives of these key historical figures:
Year 1 Guy Fawkes
Year 2 Florence Nightingale
Year 3 Boudicca
Year 4 Dick Turpin
Year 5 Alfred The Great
Year 6 Queen Victoria

History Brought to Life!

The children at William Shrewsbury are very lucky to experience several, historical experiences and trips including: a trip to Tamworth Castle, a visit from a caveman, a historical walk around their locality, a visit from an expert of the Jinnie trainline and Ancient Greek Day and performance, a Viking visit and a Victorian Day and Christmas concert.

During Black History Month, each class is given a designated historical figure to study and then their learning is shared though a combined hall display.  Each Key Stage will take part in an assembly where they will learn how in the past, people often overlooked achievements, struggles, and contributions of Black people.  We will promote a more complete and accurate understanding of history for all students. Educating students about Black history fosters better citizenship, encourages critical thinking about societal issues, and provides crucial representation for Black children. By diversifying the curriculum, we can build more equitable societies and ensure that everyone sees their stories reflected in their education.

Black History Month Key Figure:
EYFS Floella Benjamin
Year 1 Sir Lenny Henry
Year 2 Mae Jemison
Year 3 Bessie Coleman
Year 4 Francis Barber
Year 5 Martin Luther King

Supporting your child's learning at home

Of course, historical learning doesn’t just have to take place in school.  There are many different ways in which you can encourage your child to be a future historian!

Make it about stories

  • Read age-appropriate history books, picture books, or short biographies together.
  • Tell stories from your own childhood or family history (“When Grandma was at school…”).
  • Watch short, child-friendly documentaries or animations about past events.

Explore family and local history

  • Look at old photos, letters, or objects — talk about who used them and how life was different.
  • Walk around your neighbourhood: look for plaques, statues, old buildings, or street names.
  • Visit museums, castles, heritage centres, or historical parks.

Connect history to the present

  • When you see something in the news or on a trip, talk about how it links to the past (“Why do we celebrate Remembrance Day?”).
  • Cook a recipe from another era or culture and discuss how people ate then.
  • Compare toys, clothes, or transport from “then and now.”

Encourage curiosity and questions

  • Let your child lead with “Why?” and “How?” questions.
  • Use online child-safe resources (BBC Bitesize, National Geographic Kids, museum websites) to investigate answers together.
  • Keep a little “history notebook” for questions, sketches, or interesting facts.

Get creative

  • Act out a moment in history or put on a mini play about a famous person.
  • Build models (e.g., Stonehenge with blocks, a Viking longboat from cardboard).
  • Make a timeline along a wall or in a scrapbook to show events in order.

Support schoolwork

  • Ask your child to explain what they learned in class — teaching you helps them remember.
  • Help with research for projects: find books at the library or look up trusted online sources together.
  • Celebrate effort rather than just correct answers: curiosity and enthusiasm matter most!

Useful Websites

Here are some safe, engaging websites where primary-school children can explore history.
(All are free or have free sections — always supervise younger children online.)

🌍 General history & world topics

🏛️ British & Irish history

🌎 Ancient civilisations

🧭 Local and family history

  • National Archives – Education
    https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/
    → Fun activities, documents, and “classroom resources” that can be used at home.
  • Scotland, Wales, Ireland heritage sites (Historic Environment Scotland, Cadw, Heritage Ireland) – many have free kids’ pages and printable packs.

🎮 Interactive / games-based

Tips for parents and carers

  • Sit with younger children and guide searches.
  • Encourage them to write or draw what they discover.
  • Help them spot the difference between facts and opinions online.

Historical Book Reccomendations

Websites are fantastic but sometimes the beauty of holding a book to study History, is magical.  Here are some book recommendations to support your child’s historical learning:

Website

What they offer / strengths

National Archives – Children’s Books

They have a curated collection of children’s history books (British history, world history, etc.) with featured themes. (The National Archives Shop)

Books for Topics – History Topic Booklists

Lots of subject-/topic based reading lists chosen by experts, including KS1/KS2 appropriate history texts. (Books for Topics)

SchoolReadingList.co.uk – History-Themed Fiction & Non-Fiction for KS1-KS2

Curated lists by topic (Romans, Vikings, Black History, etc.) often linking to book sources. (School Reading List)

Example books you can buy (for primary age)

Here are some books (or series) that are well-suited for primary school children. These cover different historical periods and styles (fact, narrative, activity-based).

Usborne Book of World History

broad world history

Everything: Anglo‑Saxons (National Geographic)

Anglo‑Saxons topic

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