History
At Brookfield, we believe that studying history enables pupils to understand their place in the world by exploring how they connect to the long and fascinating story of human development. Our curriculum is broad in scope, carefully sequenced, and rich in the stories of both individuals and civilisations. It goes beyond the expectations of the national curriculum to provide pupils with a wider and more diverse understanding of the past. Through this, pupils are encouraged to recognise both the striking similarities and the profound differences in human experiences across time and place, engaging them in a meaningful dialogue with the past and with the traditions of historical enquiry.Our children gain coherent knowledge of the history of Britain and the wider world and how the past impacts the present. In our carefully structured and well delivered lessons, children learn the key concepts that make a good historian:
- Concept of chronology through placing periods, significant individuals and events on timelines
- Continuity and change
- Cause and consequence
- Compare and contrast different periods in time or historical figures
- Historical interpretation where children look at difference accounts of the same event and learn how to evaluate them
- Using evidence, primary and secondary sources
We provide a wide variety of activities in history lessons which support learning and understanding of all children. We invite visitors and carefully plan visits to museums to further support and develop children’s learning and understanding of the subject. Our children are confidently communicating their views, knowledge, skills and passion for the subject using oracy skills carefully embedded in all sequences of lessons.
History and Storytelling
At Brookfield, storytelling sits at the heart of our history curriculum. We recognise that history is not just a sequence of events, but a rich tapestry of human experiences, and it is through story that these come to life for our pupils. Across the curriculum journey, we deliberately establish broad themes—such as power, belief, migration, and resistance—so that children can make meaningful connections over time and deepen their understanding of the past.
Our focus topics are carefully chosen for their narrative power. From the life of Imhotep, the god-physician of Ancient Egypt, to the dramatic death of Philip of Macedon; from the life of the Prophet Muhammad to the voyages of Erik the Red; from Princess Sophia Duleep Singh to Nancy Wake, the “White Mouse” of World War II—each unit is rich with compelling stories that capture imagination and build knowledge. These narratives help pupils to remember more, understand more, and engage more deeply with history.
We understand the power of storytelling to ignite curiosity, develop empathy, and give meaning to the past. By placing stories at the centre of our curriculum, we bring history to life and ensure that learning is both memorable and meaningful for every child.