History education helps pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world, as well as significant ideas such as liberty, democracy, fairness and justice. History develops their ability to explore and make reasoned arguments about historical influences on current development and sustainability issues.

Teaching should equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, consider and sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. 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.

History engages pupils in exploring their own and others’ views and values in relation to how the actions of people in the past have led to some of the global problems we face today and how this may impact on their own choices for the future. Through history, pupils develop their knowledge and understanding of other societies, cultures and beliefs, and the impact these have on the values which influence the decisions and actions of individuals, organisations and governments, made today.

Learning history is particularly relevant to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 4 Quality Education
• SDG 5 Gender equality
• SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions