History

History is a fascinating subject that captures the imagination of children through the wonderful stories and characters that it offers.

A focus on reading, recall and the narrative of history is at the heart the department’s philosophy throughout the school. Our specialist History teachers offer rigorous and challenging lessons that foster a love of the past and inspire a life-long love of history and learning for its own sake.

Select an option below

Nursery

Pre-Prep

Prep

history

All children have sophisticated thinking skills and we create an environment that is stimulating and encourages children to explore those things that fascinate them.

We touch on history and start to build the skills needed to be a great historian through Understanding the World, one of the four specific areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.

history

We bring history to life via our topic-based exploration, and use dressing up, artefacts, visits, drama and visitors to ensure that children see, feel and love history.

Our Victorian topic, for example, encompasses history of art including Monet and Van Gough, significant people of the era including Queen Victoria and Florence Nightingale, important inventions and their inventors such as Brunel, and a trip to local living museum, Weald and Downland, to experience life as a Victorian.

history

Years 3 and 4 are packed full of history, which is taught through interesting, interactive topics. The children are visited by a Roman solider recruiting troops to protect Hadrian’s Wall and they meet an Egyptian as well as visiting the British Museum in London to see ancient artefacts.

Children in Years 5 – 8 are taught by one of the two specialist history teachers. We focus on building a strong understanding of chronology and an appreciation of narrative.

In Year 5, we focus on the medieval world, especially English monarchs from Alfred the Great to Richard III. Pupils are introduced to essay writing and are taught how structure their work logically.

In Year 6 pupils study the early modern period: the Tudor dynasty, the House of Stuarts, the English Civil War and Cromwell and finish with the Glorious Revolution.

During Years 6 and 7, pupils are immersed to the 1700-1920 time period. Topics include the Napoleonic Wars, the Industrial Revolution and the Suffragettes. Pupils also have the opportunity to study some of the great historical figures including Nelson, Wellington, Napoleon, Disraeli, Queen Victoria, Florence Nightingale and Emmeline Pankhurst.

Classes are introduced to the fascinating world of satire through the study of political cartoons and they begin to work with more complicated original source material as well as considering the views of academic historians on the momentous events of the period.

History

Out of the classroom: co-curricular

We use a mixture of activities, visits and events in the school grounds as well as educational visits further afield to bring history alive. We also organise cross-curricular events with other departments.

Trips include visiting a living museum, Weald and Downland, in the hills behind Chichester, and a trip to London to see the British Museum’s breath-taking array of Ancient Egyptian mummies, tombs and sarcophagus.

roman day

history trip

year 3 history

Paul Donald

Head of History and Humanities

I was fortunate to have two amazing history teachers when I was at school and they gave me a life-long love of the subject. I believe strongly in the power of storytelling, which is, in essence, what any historian does. My vision is for pupils at Westbourne House to have a strong grounding in chronology and develop a strong knowledge of British and European history. As an ex-journalist and sometime English teacher, I am also passionate about the written word and the craft of essay writing is something I encourage in all pupils.