We have created a unique curriculum tailored to meet the needs of our mixed-aged classes to ensure that all children have the chance to build on their historical knowledge and skills progressively throughout their primary journey. 

At Bolton-by-Bowland C of E Primary School, our vision for history is simple: we want to spark children’s curiosity and help them develop a lifelong interest in the past. Learning about history helps children make sense of how people lived, how things have changed over time, and how different communities and cultures have shaped the world. It also helps them think about their own identity and place in society.

Our history curriculum is carefully planned over a two-year cycle in KS1 and a four-year cycle in KS2 so that children gain a clear and connected understanding of British, local and world history. It is rich in knowledge, vocabulary and experiences, and makes the most of our local area and heritage—for example, exploring farming traditions, life in the Ribble Valley during World War II, and the history of our own villages. This helps children link what they learn in school to their community, their faith, and the wider world.

We take an enquiry-based approach, encouraging children to ask thoughtful questions, think carefully about evidence, and form their own opinions. Key themes such as migration, invention, civilisation, conflict and power are revisited in different ways as children move through school, allowing them to build deeper understanding over time.

Above all, we aim to nurture young historians who are curious about the past, confident in exploring it, and inspired to use what they learn to better understand the present and shape the future.