• Stimulate pupils’ enthusiasm for, and curiosity to know more about the past
• Equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement
• Give children an understanding of their own cultural roots and to share inheritances (including British Values)
• Contribute to their knowledge and understanding of the process of change
• Enrich other areas of the curriculum
• Provide children with challenging, relevant and interesting areas of study 

• know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world
• know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires; characteristic features of past non-European societies; achievements and follies of mankind
• understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends, frame historically valid questions and create their own structured accounts, including written narratives and analyses
• gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts: understanding the connections between local, regional, national and international history; between cultural, economic, military, political, religious and social history; and between short- and long-term timescales 

At St James’ Primary School, we provide a well-rounded, cyclical curriculum based on the National Curriculum and our vision, mission (RACE: Respect, Aspiration, Community and Enquiring minds) and values. The aspects of history taught are sequenced to allow children to gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. We recognise the important role that history plays in preparing our children for later life. Running through our history curriculum are the strands of British Values: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. This will help pupils to recognise how to be responsible citizens, and to understand change and societal development. History is taught weekly each term (see below for overview). Quality first teaching will provide children with transferrable skills, raise their aspirations, and help them to recognise the importance of history for the future.

If children wish to continue to study history in the future, jobs include: museum curator, archaeologist, teacher, conservation officer, archivist, researcher, librarian, reporter and many more...