Intent

At St. Mary’s, our History curriculum is designed to help children understand the past to make sense of the present. We want our pupils to develop a strong sense of chronology, appreciate the significance of historical events, and explore how the past has shaped our local community, nation, and world.

Implementation

From Year 3 onwards, we follow the Opening Worlds Humanities programme, which provides a knowledge-rich, text-led approach to teaching History. Through this, pupils gain:

• A deep understanding of historical periods, people, and concepts
• Explicit teaching of historical vocabulary and disciplinary thinking
• Regular opportunities to revisit and connect prior learning, supporting long-term memory and understanding

In addition to the Opening Worlds sequence, we have designed bespoke local history units to ensure our curriculum is meaningful and rooted in the heritage of our pupils. These include:

• The history of the Liverpool Docks and the city’s global maritime links
• Liverpool’s role during World War I and World War II
• The history of West Derby, including its local landmarks and historical development

Our Key Stage 1 curriculum is tailored to provide children with a strong foundation in understanding change over time, famous events and people, and how to begin asking and answering historical questions.

Impact

• Pupils leave St. Mary’s with a secure and connected understanding of British and world history
• They are able to use historical vocabulary and evaluate evidence with growing confidence
• Children develop a strong sense of identity, community, and continuity through meaningful study of the past

📄 Planning & Progression

We use the Opening Worlds Planning and Progression Framework to ensure clear progression in historical knowledge, concepts and disciplinary skills across Key Stage 2.

👉 View the Opening Worlds History Progression Documents