Long-term overview - Anglo-Saxons and Vikings - Year 5

The Year 5 history curriculum provides a comprehensive overview of Britain's transformative journey from the Stone Age to the year 1066. Pupils are expected to gain a deep understanding of the significant changes that occurred during this period, including the occupation of Britain by Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings. Specifically, students will explore the Anglo-Saxon attempts to establish law and order and the division of Britain into multiple kingdoms, which ultimately influenced the creation of modern county boundaries. Additionally, they will learn about the origins of the Vikings and their frequent conflicts with the Anglo-Saxons, including reasons for the Vikings' successes in battles.

Alongside substantive knowledge, the curriculum emphasises disciplinary knowledge, focusing on chronology, causation, historical enquiry, and interpretation. Students will develop a secure grasp of British history, learning to accurately place events on a timeline and understanding the narrative of historical periods. They will also engage in historical enquiry, employing primary and secondary sources to investigate the past and formulating questions about change, cause, and consequences. Interpretation skills are honed as pupils analyse evidence and realise that historical questions can have multiple answers. The curriculum aims to equip students with a rounded perspective on how the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings shaped modern Britain and to understand the significance of events like the Norman Conquest in 1066.