Introduction

With the publication on 11 September 2013 of the final version of the revised National Curriculum for September 2014, subject leaders and classroom teachers could start to consider the implications of the proposed changes. For history at Key Stages 1 and 2, some parts of the programmes of study are new and some aspects of the previous curriculum have been retained. There are some marked changes, however, at Key Stage 2. These new elements and the requirements of the programmes of study overall have significant implications for the way in which senior leaders structure the history curriculum and classroom teachers teach history.

This article summarises:

• what inspection evidence reveals about curriculum planning and classroom teaching
• what is compulsory and what is optional in the new curriculum
• what are the implementation issues for schools of the revised programmes of study.

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