At Bentley West, we understand that history gives us a sense of identity – set within our social, political, cultural and economic relationships. History is about real people and real events that have shaped the wider world, our society and who we are today. As stated in the National Curriculum; History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.

The aim of history teaching at Bentley West is to stimulate the children’s interest and understanding about the life of people who lived in the past. We teach children a sense of chronology, and through this they develop a sense of identity and a cultural understanding based on their historical heritage. Thus they learn to value their own and other people’s cultures in modern multicultural Britain and, by considering how people lived in the past, they are better able to make their own life choices today.

We teach children to understand how events in the past have influenced our lives today; we also teach them to investigate these past events, to develop the skills of enquiry, analysis, interpretation and problem solving. We encourage pupils to consider how the past impacts upon the present through the cause and effect of significant events and individuals. As they do this, coupled with the assistance of timelines, children generate a chronological framework for their historical knowledge.


Our history curriculum is divided into three concepts. These concepts are the ‘big ideas’ in history and travel through the curriculum, being built upon, progressively, year upon year as our children move through the school.

The concepts are as follows:

  • Chronological understanding

  • knowledge and understanding of events people and changes in the past

  • historical interpretation and enquiry

For more information about history at Bentley West, please read our history policy. If you wish to know which history topics your child will study in depth during their time with us, click the year group overviews.

We are passionate at Bentley West to ensure reading is at the heart of our curriculum. Your child will enjoy many texts during their English lessons however, we enrich our wider curriculum and topics with books and stories to promote reading for purpose and pleasure. Should you wish to look for books relating to your child's history topic, please click the help link below.

If you would like any further information on our history curriculum, please contact the school and ask to speak to Richard Baker, our history subject leader.