At Freshford Church School, we believe that the teaching of history should ignite curiosity, inspire empathy and leave a lasting impression on how children see themselves and the world. History is, at its heart, a collection of powerful human stories. These stories give children a safe and meaningful way to explore complex ideas, helping them to understand not just what happened, but why it matters. We want our pupils to develop an excellent knowledge of people, events and contexts across a wide range of historical periods, while also building a deep understanding of key concepts that allow them to make connections across time.
Our intention goes beyond knowledge alone: we want children to truly understand history – to think critically, ask thoughtful questions and engage confidently in discussion, debate and reflection. By evaluating evidence from a range of sources, pupils learn to support and challenge ideas, forming their own reasoned judgements with care and respect. They begin to see that history is not fixed,but interpreted and that their voice and their thinking matter.
At Freshford, we are passionate about helping children connect the past, present and future in our Big Question Curriculum. By linking “then” to “now”, we empower pupils to see how historical events shape the world they live in today and how their choices can shape the world of tomorrow. We want them to care deeply about what they learn, to develop compassion and understanding and to recognise the importance of relationships, responsibility and perspective.
Above all, we want our pupils to leave us believing in the power of learning. Through rich enquiry, challenging research and inspiring teaching, we nurture a love of history that equips children not just to remember the past, but to make a difference in the future.