At Chigwell Primary Academy, we view history not as simple facts and dates but encourage pupils to become detectives who explore the past in an exciting way. History is taught through a topic-based approach and gives pupils a chance to explore a wide range of sources from which the past may come alive. History allows our children to compare and contrast, to examine how and why things have changed, to learn about historical characters and to expand their research skills. We teach children to be open-minded and enquiring thinkers who understand cause and effect. We want them to understand how people have lived in the past and compare this to modern life.

A high-quality history education helps pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. At Chigwell Primary Academy, our teaching aims to equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments and develop perspective and judgement. History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.