History / Geography
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History & Geography Subject Lead
Miss Middlemiss
Subject Lead
Geography
At Kingsteignton Primary School, the Geography curriculum is designed to spark curiosity about the world and help children understand the places, people and environments around them. The curriculum is sequenced so that knowledge and skills build gradually over time, allowing children to deepen their understanding of the world as they move through the school.
Children learn about a wide range of places, from their local area to countries and environments around the world. They explore both human and physical geography, including weather and climate, rivers, settlements, ecosystems, natural disasters, sustainability and how people interact with the environment. Map work and fieldwork play an important role, giving children practical experience in using maps, compasses, photographs, digital tools and geographical data.
Through regular fieldwork, pupils investigate their surroundings, collect information and draw conclusions like real geographers. They develop confidence in asking questions, observing patterns and thinking about how environments change over time. Throughout the curriculum, children also learn about cultural diversity and the different ways people live across the world, helping them become thoughtful, respectful and responsible global citizens.
As children progress, they revisit key concepts—such as place, scale, human and physical processes and environmental impact—increasing the depth and complexity of their learning. They learn to compare locations, understand cause-and-effect within the natural world and consider how decisions and actions can shape the future of our planet.
By the time they leave our school, pupils are confident using maps, interpreting data and applying geographical vocabulary. They have a strong understanding of the world, an awareness of global challenges and the curiosity and critical thinking needed to continue exploring the world around them.
History
At Kingsteignton Primary, we want our children to develop a curiosity about the past and an understanding of how history shapes the world we live in today. Through engaging and carefully planned lessons, pupils become thoughtful historians who ask questions, analyse evidence and explore different perspectives.
Our curriculum is sequenced from EYFS to Year 6 to build secure chronological knowledge and deepen historical understanding over time.
In the Early Years, children begin by exploring the concepts of past and present through personal timelines, stories and discussions about change.
In Key Stage 1, pupils learn about significant individuals, important events and aspects of local history. Topics such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the monarchy and the Great Fire of London help children begin to understand historical significance and change over time.
In Key Stage 2, pupils study British history chronologically, including the Stone Age, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, before moving on to later periods such as the Elizabethans, Victorians and World War II. They also explore Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and the Kingdom of Benin, developing an understanding of world civilisations and global connections. Local history remains an important feature of the curriculum, particularly in upper Key Stage 2.
Throughout the school, pupils develop key historical concepts and skills, including:
- Cause and consequence
- Continuity and change
- Similarity and difference
- Significance
- Interpretation
By the time they leave Kingsteignton Primary, children have developed a coherent understanding of Britain’s past and its place in the wider world, alongside the confidence to think critically and reflect on different viewpoints.
