Author: onebighistorydepartment

curriculum and planning

‘Lighting fires’: Sparking conversations around the curriculum

Thanks to Alex Bottomley, Head of Humanities at Trinity Academy in Halifax for this blogpost. This work describes some of the work of the DfE pilot Curriculum Fund project, whose initial findings have just been published. The DfE originally gave £2.4 million to a selected list of 11 lead schools to test the effects of their complete curriculum programmes on reducing teacher workload and improving … Continue reading ‘Lighting fires’: Sparking conversations around the curriculum

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curriculum and planning, diversity and inclusion, teacher knowledge

“More of that black history stuff again?” – Yes!

The HA is very aware that black history is not a topic that should be confined to a month and is also aware of the way that Black History Month (and other Months) can help to raise awareness and create discussion of the work that needs to be done to make sure the school curriculum is representative. Thanks to Sharon Aninakwa, leader of the Convent of … Continue reading “More of that black history stuff again?” – Yes!

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curriculum and planning, subject leadership, teaching history

Process of constructing a vision statement

Thanks to Hugh Richards, Head of History at Huntington School for this blogpost. Despite this vision statements appearing across Twitter and in schools all over the country (as well as their being external CPD courses on writing them) there is little published about the thinking behind them. Here Hugh shares the process that he and his team went through to create a vision they are happy … Continue reading Process of constructing a vision statement

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diversity and inclusion, websites and publications

BHM – Medicine Through Time – African Women and the British Health Service, 1930-2000

We will be posting a series of posts about topics relating to Black History Month and promoting great resources out there. At the HA we are concerned to support history teachers as they seek to teach in a way that better represents the past. Have you got your hands on the most recent copy of Teaching History yet? In addition articles that explain inspiring practice, … Continue reading BHM – Medicine Through Time – African Women and the British Health Service, 1930-2000

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beginning teacher, curriculum and planning, GCSE and A level, KS3, speaking and listening, subject leadership, teaching and learning ideas, teaching history

Help! – we’re under scrutiny for our poor results…

Last week the Historical Association was contacted by a history teacher member wanting help. The department they work in is under scrutiny for ‘poor’ results. The advice the department had been given was to differentiate all GCSE lessons into 3 or maybe 4 pathways. The department has mixed ability teaching groups with targets ranging from 2-8. They just knew this didn’t seem like a good … Continue reading Help! – we’re under scrutiny for our poor results…

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speaking and listening

HA Great Debate for Schools

This year’s HA Great Debate for Schools is “Should we judge historical figures by the morals of today?” The HA is really pleased to be organising this in partnership with BBC World Histories and the final will once again be at Windsor Castle.  Before the final in March 2020 there are regional heats around the country and the info about these and all the other information … Continue reading HA Great Debate for Schools

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KS3, subject leadership, teaching history

What has the HA survey ever done for me?

Ever doubted that your contribution could make a difference? In this short blogpost, Katharine Burn explains how the HA survey was crucial to defeating the mad National Curriculum plan of 2013 – just ask an older colleague if you were not teaching then! The HA Survey window must end in the middle of October and this is a plea, if you have not yet had … Continue reading What has the HA survey ever done for me?

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curriculum and planning, disciplinary knowledge, GCSE and A level, historical interpretations, historical scholarship, KS3, local networks, subject leadership, teacher knowledge, teaching and learning ideas

Teaching interpretations – maximising potential and avoiding pitfalls!

Thanks to Warren Valentine (@warrenvalentine), head of history and politics at Mayfield Grammar School for Girls, for this blogpost about a day spent thinking about the teaching of historical interpretations. This is an area that has been extensively discussed and theorised about for many years. You can find more help with this tricky concept on the HA website.   In June a collection of history teachers … Continue reading Teaching interpretations – maximising potential and avoiding pitfalls!

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display materials, teaching and learning resources

Free 20thC Britain timeline

Sometimes on #OBHD we get the chance to share quality resources that colleagues have made. Thanks to Mary Brown (@MissBHist) for this one: C20th overview card sort      C20th overview glossary It’s designed to address the themes of: conflict, empire, ideas and beliefs, migration, everyday life and power across the century. It’s been planned for one lesson and every image/event covers more that one of … Continue reading Free 20thC Britain timeline

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CPD, diversity and inclusion, substantive knowledge, substantive knowledge, teacher knowledge, teaching and learning ideas, websites and publications

Revisiting Chartism: The importance of teaching about the ‘Black Man and his Party’

The Secondary Committee at the HA is keen to challenge and support all history teachers to teach about the rich and multi-faceted past. Gemma Hargraves (@History__Girls) has written this blogpost to help colleagues teaching Chartism. In it she provides some interpretations and ideas for resources. As she says: “this isn’t just about pupils seeing themselves in the narratives of the past; be they working class, black … Continue reading Revisiting Chartism: The importance of teaching about the ‘Black Man and his Party’

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