History & Geography
The History and Geography curricula at Winsor are deliberately ambitious. They challenge pupils to make connections across time and place and provide a foundation of knowledge that will make them curious and active citizens of this country and the wider world.
Our History and Geography curricula are carefully sequenced, continually revisiting and building upon children’s previous learning so that they gain an increasingly sophisticated understanding of each subject. From EYFS to Year 6, the History and Geography topics taught have been selected to introduce our pupils to foundational knowledge, vocabulary and concepts, and to develop a fascination and excitement for the subjects.
History
“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
George Santayana
In History, children are first introduced to historical concepts, vocabulary and knowledge in EYFS and KS1. They begin by considering the history of their families and locality, and soon progress onto learning about significant historical figures and events such as Queen Victoria and the Great Fire of London. Pupils are taught to ask questions about the past, and begin to develop an understanding of some abstract historical concepts such as ‘monarchy’ and ‘civilisation’.
In KS2, the History Curriculum builds upon the knowledge and experiences of KS1. Pupils from Year 3 to Year 6 use the ‘Reach Curriculum’ booklets to structure their learning. They explore the history of the British Isle from the Stone Age to post- World War 2, as well as learning about other non-European cultures such as the Benin Kingdom of West Africa and the Shang Dynasty of China. The disciplinary skills of history, such as source analysis, interpretation, perspective, continuity and change are all explicitly taught and practised.
History at Winsor equips children to be active, tolerant, informed citizens who are able to take part in wider discussions about our past, present and future. It provides them with a deeper and richer cultural understanding, an enjoyment and fascination for life, and with the base knowledge and skills needed to become potential future historians.
Geography
“The study of geography is about more than just memorising places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exist across continents. And in the end, it’s about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.”
Barack Obama
In Geography, children first encounter key geographical concepts, vocabulary and knowledge in EYFS where they begin to develop their understanding of the world around them by exploring, observing and finding out about people, places, technology and the environment. This knowledge is revisited and built upon in KS1 where pupils learn about where they live, how other people live in the U.K and in different countries, and develop their understanding of a range of geographical vocabulary, concepts and practical skills in preparation for KS2.
In KS2, Geography is taught using the ‘Reach Curriculum’. The topics are designed to incorporate fundamental geographical knowledge and skills, creating a firm foundation in the subject for the children to build upon in the future. A range of units are covered including: rivers, settlements, globalisation, and energy and sustainability, all exploring the interaction between human and physical processes and developing knowledge about diverse places and people.
Geography at Winsor provides children with a deeper cultural understanding and equips them to be more socially and environmentally sensitive, making them better informed and more responsible citizens.
Below is a link to the History & Geography overview for Y1-Y6.