Welcome to History

In History at Franklin, we aim to make the past accessible for all through instilling pupils with interest and excitement for the historical past and its significant influence on the present. Our pupils will leave us as keen explorers of the past able to understand the context of when key events took place and how they have informed the world today.

Through their investigation of events of the past, pupils will broaden their knowledge and understanding of the world in which they live and be able to make informed decisions, developing a chronological understanding that is linked to their place in the world. It is important that our pupils learn about local, national and global history so that they become informed and reflective citizens and inquisitive thinkers with an understanding of how the world we live in today was shaped by events of the past.    

The Franklin History experience begins in Early Years and Key Stage 1 where learning incorporates changes in living memory and learning about the lives of significant people and events of the past. In Key Stage 2, it journeys through The Stone Age, the Celts and the Roman Empire, the Vikings and Aztecs, the Norman Conquest and Medieval England – and concludes with the Tudors and the Victorians. Disciplinary knowledge and concepts also continue to be systematically developed accordingly, in tandem with this substantive knowledge.

We will support our pupils to do this by building awareness of both their own heritage and that of the wider world, and by equipping them with the essential disciplinary tools that can be used and applied within meaningful historical enquiry. They will learn to make decisions based on evidence and to record and communicate their historical knowledge in a variety of ways, comparing and contrasting the past with the present. By encouraging our pupils to question, explain and describe their knowledge and understanding, we seek to develop their enquiring minds, enabling them to analyse, interpret and challenge the telling of historic events

London has enjoyed a rich history and our curriculum is also designed to ensure pupils have a clear understanding of this within the wider British and World context as a basis in which to develop pride in their community, their county and their country.

History at Franklin has historical enquiry at its heart. Each history unit is launched with an overarching ‘enquiry question’, and lessons are driven by sub enquiry questions which support pupils to gain historical perspective and evaluate evidence and to make judgments about the past.

Throughout their time at Franklin, pupils are taught that historical enquiry is all about asking pertinent questions or hypothesising about the past that we hope the evidence will help us to answer. Pupils have opportunities to explore different sources, conduct their own research and go on school trips to bring the subject to life, as they seek to place their growing knowledge into context with the era being studied.

History beyond the classroom: the benefits of experiencing history outside the classroom are enormous. We take advantage of our London location by organising a wide range of visits, all of which are designed to enhance what has been learnt in the classroom. Recent trips include The British Museum, The Toy Museum, Gunnersbury House and The Tower of London. 

All Year 1 subjects Next Year 1 Subject - Geography

All Year 2 subjects Next Year 2 Subject - Geography

All Year 3 subjects Next Year 3 Subject - Geography

All Year 4 subjects Next Year 4 Subject - Geography

All Year 5 subjects Next Year 5 Subject - Geography

All Year 6 subjects Next Year 6 Subject - Geography