Aims and ambitions  

At OBS, we educate our pupils, including SEND, through coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Using a clearly planned out curriculum, our children are equipped with a range of historical skills to inspire their curiosity to know more about the past. Learning is accessible to all and is adapted to meet the needs of the children. Teaching of History progressively builds pupils historical skills to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. Our children feel empowered to reflect on the past and its impact on the present.

Sequence and Progression

In EYFS, we teach History through the Early Learning Goal of: Understanding of the World (Past and Present). This involves talking about the lives of people and their roles in society, knowing some similarities and differences between things in the past and now and understanding the past through books read in class. We then follow the National Curriculum in Years 1 to Year 6. We have adapted the NC in to the Old Basford Curriculum Progression map and aligned this with the OBS creative topic based approach to learning. The units of learning are age appropriate and progressive from EYFS to KS2, the five main subject specific skills that bind the History curriculum together are: Chronological understanding, range and depth of historical knowledge, interpretations of history, historical enquiry and organisation and communication for which I have produced exemplification documents. Each History topic has four key knowledge based themes that run through the school: empire/ democracy/ everyday life/ technology. At the beginning of each lesson, key concepts and subject specific vocabulary are revisited and built upon. In addition, the learning objectives linked to knowledge and skills are shared explicitly to the children.

Children leave OBS ready and equipped to face the next stage in their History education.

Useful History Documents

Remembrance Day

Today, we paused to remember the courage and sacrifice of those who served and continue to serve for our freedom. At Old Basford, our pupils and staff came together for a 2-minute silence to reflect on the importance of peace and gratitude.

Y5 – Local History

Year 5 studied the local area as part of our ‘Basford and Bulwell Bygones’ topic. We carried out a range of activities, including comparing old and new maps to discover how our area has changed over time. We also explored a variety of historical sources to understand what everyday life was like in the past. In addition, we examined the 1911 census to learn more about the previous residents of Old Basford.

Y3 - Stone Age

Year 3 have been learning about life from the Stone Age to the Iron Age this term. They explored several fascinating areas, including the types of houses people lived in, the places they settled and key events from these periods. They also investigated how we know about the Stone Age through evidence and artefacts. To bring history to life, the children even became archaeologists and took part in their very own dig to unearth valuable artefacts!

VE Day

At Old Basford, we marked VE day by every class making their own bunting to hang around the school. We also had lunch on the field in the style of a street party and marked the 2-minute silence as a whole school. Every class also spent the day learning why VE was so important.  

Poppy Appeal

Well done to everyone at OBS, together we managed to raise £170 for the Poppy Appeal!

Year 3 - Stonehenge

As part of their Stone Age topic, Year 3 looked at the significance of Stonehenge. They then had a go at building their own version of the ancient structure! 

Year 5 - Historical Sources

As part of their Nottingham Nights topic, Year 5 looked at a variety of topics to learn how the Goose Fair has changed over time.

Year 3 - Being Archaeologists

To start off their Stone Age topic, Year 3 became Archaeologists and discovered various artifacts. They then collected and looked at what they told us about the Stone Age.