Living Life to its Fullest: Making a difference Along the Way
History
History Policy 2023-2025
History Subject Leader Handbook 2023-2025
History at Rivington Foundation Primary School
At Rivington Foundation Primary School, we are proud to follow the CUSP (Curriculum Unity Schools Partnership) history curriculum, which is rooted in evidence-based practices. Our curriculum is designed around the principles of building cumulative knowledge, understanding chronology, and exploring change through cause and consequence. We emphasize making meaningful connections both within specific historical periods and across time.
Throughout the academic year, our students engage with a wide range of historical themes, following the 2014 Primary National Curriculum. Many of these topics are anchored in the local history of our area, providing students with a deeper understanding of their community’s past. This local knowledge is then used to compare life in Britain with life in other parts of the world during similar time periods, while also exploring how our local area has evolved through the centuries.
History is at the heart of Rivington Foundation Primary School’s identity. Our school, which has stood for nearly 460 years, has witnessed—and been part of—our nation’s rich history. We believe that just as our school played a role in shaping history since 1566, we continue to shape it today.
Intent
Our History curriculum is designed to ignite children’s curiosity and passion for learning about the past. Through high-quality teaching, students acquire both the knowledge and the skills they need to understand historical events, figures, and concepts. Our aim is to instil in them a lasting interest in history and an appreciation for its relevance in the modern world.
Implementation
The CUSP History curriculum is organized into thematic blocks, each focused on key historical disciplines. As they progress through the school, students explore important historical concepts such as Civilisation, Community, Knowledge, Power, Invasion, and Democracy. Alongside this, we emphasize disciplinary knowledge—helping students develop their ability to make historical claims, construct arguments, and critically analyse accounts from the past.
Recognizing the unique structure of our mixed-age classes, we have adapted the CUSP curriculum into a two-year rolling programme to ensure every child receives a comprehensive and engaging history education.
Impact
A central goal of our history curriculum is for students to become progressively more adept in their understanding of history, developing a broad and coherent view of the past. This ensures that their knowledge is cumulative, not fragmented.
Throughout each unit, students learn specific vocabulary that deepens their comprehension and allows them to articulate their historical understanding with precision. Teachers use formative assessments to identify and address any learning gaps, while also providing challenges to stretch those who are ready for more advanced study. These interventions are most effective when delivered immediately, supporting students at the point of learning.
History Trips
At Rivington Foundation Primary, we believe that fieldwork trips are highly valuable for cementing historical understanding and bringing history to life. As well as being lucky enough to be situated within easy access of amazing museums. We are extremely lucky to have a wealth of historical experiences on our doorstep. Staff are constantly looking for new experiences that will enrich the learning of their pupils. This year’s history trips have taken us to the Lancashire Archives, Astley Hall and Style Mill. We also organise talks and workshops, some of which have a cross-curricular links and some where an expert shares their knowledge with the children in a creative capacity. We have often been involved in joint projects with the Horwich Historical Society – reflecting on Local History and helping with the restoration of the Terraced Gardens. We regularly report on these in the newsletter and Twitter so do have a look each week and see what’s been going on!
History at Home
As well as many museums, history is everywhere – in buildings, blue plagues and in the hills above us! Children can also learn a lot from our own personal stories of the past which allow them to understand that the world changes with each generation. At Rivington Foundation Primary we actively encourage children to continue their research at home.
Below are some websites you might find useful:
BBC Primary History
Show Me UK
History on the net