At Beaconside Primary and Nursery School, our history curriculum is designed around the Chris Quigley framework, which provides a structured, milestone-based approach built on threshold concepts such as chronology, society, beliefs, and society. This approach ensures pupils develop deep, transferable historical skills rather than simply memorising isolated facts. It aligns fully with the National Curriculum requirements by covering the statutory programmes of study through a coherent progression of knowledge and skills that build systematically over time.

The curriculum offers clear, scaffolded learning steps with a focus on core historical thinking skills: cause and effect, significance, use of evidence, and understanding continuity and change. This structure supports pupils who may need repeated exposure to concepts to secure learning, while also challenging more able pupils to deepen their critical thinking and historical literacy.

Our approach is aspirational: it aims to cultivate curiosity and a lifelong passion for history by linking concepts through engaging themes such as settlements, conflict, and beliefs. This thematic approach helps pupils build rich, interconnected knowledge and vocabulary, fostering a strong sense of the past and its relevance to the present and future. 

By using Chris Quigley’s clear milestones and assessment benchmarks, teachers can confidently plan lessons that meet pupils’ needs, track progress effectively, and provide targeted support or extension. The balance of structure and flexibility encourages innovation within a solid framework, promoting rich, meaningful learning experiences.

Our history curriculum is deeply aligned with our vision and values. It supports our commitment to providing a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment where pupils and staff respect one another and embrace cultural and religious diversity. History lessons nurture pupils’ understanding of their rights and responsibilities within society and promote fundamental British values such as tolerance and respect.

The curriculum also reflects our aim to develop self-motivated, self-critical young people who become valued citizens. Through historical inquiry, pupils learn to reflect on past societies and events critically, fostering the school’s learning values of reflection, ambition, communication, responsibility, and independence. The curriculum contributes to building a community founded on excellent behaviour, tolerance, and fun by encouraging respectful debate and appreciation of different perspectives.