SEND is everyone’s business — so what does it mean for history teachers?
This article is written by Catherine Priggs, Leadership and Curriculum consultant regarding SEND and history teaching. SEND is something no history teacher can afford to see as a niche issue. Around 40% of pupils will be identified as having special educational needs at some point during their time in school. The number of pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) has grown sharply since … Continue reading SEND is everyone’s business — so what does it mean for history teachers?
History Teacher CPD: Historical Association Teacher Fellowship Programme
This article is written by Geraint Brown, FHA regarding the Henry on Tour Teacher Fellowship which began in January 2025 History teacher CPD through the HATF 2025: Henry on Tour It’s been a pleasure to be leading this year’s HA Teacher Fellowship focused on the royal progresses of Henry VIII, which is being run in partnership with the Henry on Tour project. For the history … Continue reading History Teacher CPD: Historical Association Teacher Fellowship Programme
Using the iPad in the History Classroom
Article written by Kirstie Murray from Cambourne Village College, Cambridgeshire Speaking as a pen-and-paper girl rather than a digital native, the use of technology has always seemed more like an addition within the classroom than a tool capable of developing teaching and learning. This blog isn’t intended to present a sweeping argument about the utility or otherwise of technology in the classroom, but rather hopefully … Continue reading Using the iPad in the History Classroom
Reflections on the Great Debate
An account of how students from two different schools prepared and delivered their speech for this year’s challenge. Written by students from The Crypt School, Gloucester and Carre’s Grammar School, Lincolnshire. Sapphire and Sanj worked as a team to write and research the speech. This is their experience… Being involved with the Great Debate enabled us to develop a passion for parts of History outside … Continue reading Reflections on the Great Debate
The power of a ballad vs the power ballad
By Meggie Hayes, History Teacher at The Crypt School in Gloucester. If you ask students what a ballad is today, they will go straight to the talents of Adele and Lewis Capaldi – perhaps some of the more cultured of the class will recite the greats of the 80s like Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’. But these answers – whilst bangers – are … Continue reading The power of a ballad vs the power ballad
Building a coherent history curriculum: why it matters and how to achieve it
By Catherine Priggs Curricular coherence is a vital element of effective curriculum design. When a curriculum coheres, it unfolds as a logical narrative, ensuring that content is not a collection of isolated topics. In a coherent curriculum, topics are woven together through overarching ideas, reinforcing pupils’ chronological and conceptual understanding. So, what does curricular coherence look like in practice? The power of sequencing A vital … Continue reading Building a coherent history curriculum: why it matters and how to achieve it
Young Voices
The HA Secondary Committee have been working hard to ensure that young people have an opportunity to engage with the work of the HA, not only through being able to access resources and take part in opportunities but to have their voices heard. We have run the Young Voices project where students from across the country took part in online discussions and mini research tasks … Continue reading Young Voices
Curriculum Review 2024
In September 2024 the Department for Education launched a consultation on the curriculum asking for students, parents, teachers, employers, leaders and experts to share their thoughts on the current model and what a future curriculum could look like. The Historical Association is preparing a response and we wanted to ask you for your help in enabling your students to give their feedback to us on … Continue reading Curriculum Review 2024
Diversifying the Second World War
This article is written by Philip Arkinstall, Curriculum Leader for History at Hardenhuish School. It compliments an earlier blog post about how to teach the Second World War (https://onebighistorydepartment.com/2023/04/25/cracking-the-enigma-a-new-approach-to-teaching-all-of-world-war-two/) Here I have reflected upon our department’s wider work on rewriting our Key Stage Three curriculum. It sits within a greater appreciation of diverse histories in the Tudor period, British Empire and the First World War. … Continue reading Diversifying the Second World War
Be More Helen
On Wednesday 28th August our friend Helen Snelson sadly passed away in York surrounded by her family and friends. It’s normal after someone has died to list their achievements and praise their impact. With Helen this would be easy. But she would have hated it. She hated being singled out. She saw herself as part of a wider team and community. As a cog in … Continue reading Be More Helen
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