At St Margaret’s CE Primary School, we believe every child is Created to Shine. In Discover, we nurture each child’s talents and curiosity so they grow in confidence and understanding. Our curriculum is rooted in our values of Love and Aspire- love for learning and for one another, and the aspiration to reach their full potential.
Through exploring key historical figures, moments, and concepts, children learn to love the stories of the past and aspire to make their own impact in the future. Whether stepping into the shoes of courageous leaders or imagining new ways to solve ancient problems, pupils build confidence, empathy and a sense of belonging in the wider world.
Our Discover Curriculum aims to help pupils build knowledge, develop key skills, and find joy in learning. We encourage curiosity, creativity, and confidence so that every child can love learning and aspire to achieve their best.
We do this by:
Developing a strong foundation of historical knowledge, including key facts, dates, events, and significant individuals from British and world history.
Promoting an enquiry-led approach, where pupils learn to ask and answer historically valid questions — investigating the past like real historians.
Building critical understanding by helping children interpret and evaluate different sources of evidence, recognising how history is constructed and why interpretations may vary.
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced from Early Years to Year 6 to ensure learning builds step by step. Lessons are practical, engaging and inclusive, allowing all pupils to access the subject and succeed. We focus on developing key vocabulary, understanding and meaningful application of knowledge.
In Discover, we engage children through immersive experiences and enquiry-based learning, where each topic begins with a compelling question or real-life hook. Children become history detectives—investigating artefacts, re-enacting events, and using primary sources. Progression is ensured through revisiting core concepts such as chronology, cause and consequence, and interpreting evidence in an increasingly complex and sophisticated way as children move through the school.
We know our curriculum is successful when pupils can talk confidently about their learning, show pride in their work, and demonstrate progress over time. Pupils enjoy [Subject Name] and understand its importance in everyday life.
Pupils consistently demonstrate secure recall of key historical events, timelines, and significant individuals with clarity and enthusiasm. They confidently articulate their understanding and interpretations of the past using precise subject-specific vocabulary. Pupil voice reflects a high level of engagement, with learners valuing opportunities such as themed learning days, debates, and historical enquiry tasks. Evidence in pupils’ workbooks shows clear progression in historical knowledge and skills, as well as increasing depth of understanding and thoughtful reflection over time.
We enrich learning through experiences that bring Discover to life- such as trips, workshops, clubs and visitors. These opportunities help children love learning and aspire to new challenges.
This includes:
Educational visits to places of historical significance.
Immersive re-enactment experiences that support active learning.
Workshops led by historical experts and specialists.
Opportunities to explore and engage with local community history and heritage.