History
At Danesholme Academies, our history curriculum is designed so that every child will 'Be Ready':
Ready to Learn — We provide a rich, knowledge-based history curriculum that builds secure foundations in substantive knowledge—key events, people, and periods—and disciplinary knowledge, such as evidence analysis and interpretation. Children learn to ask meaningful questions and think critically about the past.
Ready for Life — History equips children with the ability to understand change, continuity, and cause and consequence. They develop analytical and evaluative skills that help them interpret information, challenge assumptions, and make informed decisions in a complex world.
Ready to Contribute — Through historical enquiry and collaborative discussion, children learn to respect diverse perspectives, appreciate cultural heritage, and engage thoughtfully with debates about identity and society. They understand how history shapes communities and their role in shaping the future.
Ready to Succeed — With high expectations and progressive development of both substantive and disciplinary knowledge, every child is empowered to construct arguments, use evidence effectively, and communicate historical understanding with confidence—preparing them for the next stage of education and beyond.
Implementation
At Danesholme Infant Academy, we follow the Primary Knowledge Curriculum which is designed to provide children with a secure understanding of local, British and world history through a carefully sequenced, knowledge-rich curriculum. Pupils develop both substantive knowledge of historical events, people and societies, and disciplinary knowledge by learning how historians use evidence, interpret sources and explain cause, consequence and significance.
Learning is structured chronologically, enabling children to build connections between different periods of history and understand how past events have shaped the modern world. Wherever possible, learning is brought to life through meaningful links to our local area. For example, children explore the Viking influence on the local community through the origins of Danesholme, helping them understand how Viking settlements shaped the history of the region. They also learn about the importance of the Corby steelworks, exploring how industry transformed the local area, created communities and contributed to Britain's industrial story. These local connections help children place their own experiences within the wider narrative of British history.
Our curriculum encourages pupils to think critically, ask perceptive questions and develop informed viewpoints. Through studying a diverse range of historical figures, civilisations and significant events, children gain a deeper appreciation of different cultures, perspectives and experiences across time.
The teaching of history also supports our Danesholme KRR values of being Kind, Ready and Respectful. Children learn to be respectful of the experiences and achievements of people from the past, show kindness through understanding different perspectives and cultures, and demonstrate readiness by developing the knowledge, skills and curiosity needed to become active, informed citizens. By investigating historical evidence, discussing different interpretations and reflecting on the impact of historical events, pupils develop the confidence to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.
Ultimately, our History curriculum aims to inspire a lifelong curiosity about the past, enabling children to understand both their local heritage and their place within the wider world.
Please see the full implementation below.