This practical series of webinars will identify what confuses pupils in primary history and how such confusion and misconceptions can be avoided and challenged. Through examples of careful planning and activities it will show how pupils can develop an accurate and nuanced understanding of chronology and change, cause and consequence, historical interpretations, and significance. It will also demonstrate how best to use sources in the classroom and improve pupil handling of original evidence. The webinars will focus on Key Stages 1 and 2.

Learning outcomes

This webinar series will enable you to:

• Identify and potentially avoid pupil confusion and misconceptions when teaching primary history.
• Plan carefully for a more nuanced pupil understanding of chronology and a range of disciplinary concepts.

About the presenter

Andrew Wrenn FHA is an experienced history consultant and teacher educator. A former head of history and cross-phase local authority adviser for history and humanities, he is a longstanding contributor to the HA across both primary and secondary. This includes articles for Primary History and Teaching History, presentations at conferences, and online and in-person CPD. He is an assessor for the HA Quality Mark.

Programme

Session 1: Avoiding confusion with chronology and change in primary history (FREE for HA members)

This practical webinar will identify what confuses pupils in the teaching of chronology and the disciplinary concept of change and continuity and will show how such confusion and misconceptions can be avoided and challenged. Examples of careful planning and activities will be given so that pupils can develop an accurate and nuanced understanding of what they are being in taught, in line with National Curriculum rubric and current Ofsted expectations. The session will also refer to the improved pupil handling of original evidence.

Session 2: Avoiding confusion with cause and consequence in primary history

This practical webinar will identify what confuses pupils in the teaching of the disciplinary concept of cause and consequence and will show how such confusion and misconceptions can be avoided and challenged. Examples of careful planning and activities will be given so that pupils can develop an accurate and nuanced understanding of what they are being taught, in line with National Curriculum rubric and current Ofsted expectations. The session will also refer to the improved pupil handling of original evidence.

Session 3: Avoiding confusion with historical interpretations in primary history

This practical webinar will identify what confuses pupils in the teaching of the disciplinary concept of historical interpretations and will show how such confusion and misconceptions can be avoided and challenged. Examples of careful planning and activities will be given so that pupils can develop an accurate and nuanced understanding of what they are being taught, in line with National Curriculum rubric and current Ofsted expectations. The session will also refer to the improved pupil handling of original evidence.

Session 4: Avoiding confusion with significance in primary history

This practical webinar will identify what confuses pupils in the teaching of the disciplinary concept of historical significance and will show how such confusion and misconceptions can be avoided and challenged. Examples of careful planning and activities will be given so that pupils can develop an accurate and nuanced understanding of what they are being taught, in line with National Curriculum rubric and current Ofsted expectations. The session will also refer to the improved pupil handling of original evidence.

Session 5: Supporting pupils in reaching independent conclusions in primary history

This practical webinar will demonstrate how people can be supported in, reaching their own independent conclusions about the history, they are studying. It will suggest a number of careful ways of structuring people work both in written and verbal responses, so that they can demonstrate clear, understanding and substantiate any claims they may make. The role of writing frames and similar aids to learning will be considered.

How to book

This webinar series took place in Summer 2024 and we have made access to the recordings available on demand from January 2025–January 2026.

Release date: Monday 6 January 2025
Expiry date: Tuesday 6 January 2026

You will need to be logged in to pay and access each webinar using the links on this page. We regret we are unable to arrange block purchases or issue invoices, but VAT receipts are available upon request. Once you have purchased each webinar, the recording will be available to view at the bottom of the relevant resource page until the stated expiry date. 

Terms and conditions

All Historical Association webinars are subject to the HA CPD terms and conditions. For enquiries please contact events@history.org.uk.