Get Vocal with Local

Following the success of our Great Debate competition for secondary students, we are delighted to announce that we are piloting a new history public speaking competition for primary pupils. 

What is my favourite local history place?

The question of the Talking History competition this year is what is my favourite local history place?

What was that historic building/structure/site in your locality used for? What stories can it tell? How is that place in your locality connected to an important national or international event or person? What important archaeology is under your feet in your chosen place? How does your chosen place connect to your life now?  There are many reasons why a place can be your favourite local history place. In this competition, we want to hear all about your favourite local history place and why. The place you choose should be a place, site or building you have researched from your local area that has made an impact on you and is recognised locally, and perhaps even nationally or internationally, or it may be a place, building or site that you feel deserves greater recognition.

What do I have to do?

You are invited to research and prepare a talk to share a significant place/building/site from your own locality, telling us why it is important and why it should be remembered or better remembered. Talks must be no more than 5 minutes in length and must demonstrate the knowledge you have developed from your research as well as your argument for why your chosen place is significant.

It is advised that schools wishing to participate should hold an internal school/class competition first to decide upon the 2 (maximum per school) entries to put forward and enter into the Historical Association heats.

In May and June 2025, a series of up to 10 virtual heats will take place and the winner of each heat will go forward to a virtual final held in early July.

Good luck!

What will I win?

The winner of the final will win:

• a £25 voucher
• an HA goody bag
• a year’s HA membership for their school
• a commemorative certificate
• a commemorative notebook

Why enter a competition focusing on history and oracy?

Throughout history, information and argument has been shared orally through storytelling, conversations and narratives where different perspectives are shared. Making a convincing case and presenting orally with confidence is an essential life skill and often the forerunner to being able to write effectively about something. If pupils can talk effectively about an issue, they are far more likely to write well about it too!   

The Historical Association recognises the importance of oracy skills in enabling our primary historians to: 

• Articulate their ideas. Through the process of researching, organising and presenting their learning, primary historians will learn how to articulate their ideas clearly and engage with an audience: these are valuable skills within the wider world. 
• Develop critical thinking. By researching and communicating historical concepts and narratives with growing complexity, primary historians will learn to draw their own conclusions and justify these while appreciating different perspectives.
• Gain deeper understanding and appreciation of the past. Through the process of sifting through historical evidence to inform their presentation, primary historians will expand their knowledge of the past, broadening their historical perspectives. 
• Grow in confidence. Through sharing their learning orally, children gain confidence in speaking to a real audience: a transferable and desirable skill, applicable to many contexts. Confidence in using the spoken word is also an essential precursor to writing historically which children will become accustomed to as they move through upper KS2, writing for increasingly sustained periods, as they move on through their secondary education.

Above all, taking part is an interactive and engaging approach to learning history in which children are empowered to explore, express and appreciate the significance and relevance of the past.

Heats will be taking place in May and June, with the final taking place in early July.

Heat dates: (Additional dates may be added)

• Monday 19 May
• Monday 2 June
• Wednesday 4 June
• Monday 9 June
• Monday 16 June
• Monday 23 June

Final: Tuesday 8 July

Rules:

1. The competition is open to all pupils (including internationally) in years 5/6 (or equivalent) in the academic year 2024/5.
2. Schools are required to hold their own ‘heat’ or competition in which no more than two children will be put forward for judging in the virtual heats run by the Historical Association.
3. All entries must be received by the HA by Friday 9 May 2025
4. Entrants will create a 3-5 minute (max) presentation and no shorter than 2 minutes minimum based on their own research or on their ‘local study’ taught within school.
5. The judges’ decision is final.
6. Presentations must demonstrate historical research as well as argument.
7. All pupils being put forward to the virtual heats must have the correct permissions and be available to attend at least 3 of the published dates. We will do our best to accommodate preferences for heat dates, but cannot guarantee this. All heats will run at 3.30pm unless otherwise stated. All pupils attending the virtual heats must have an adult accompanying them.
8. All pupils going forward to heats must have adult permission and must be willing to be recorded and for their image to potentially be used on the HA website and other communication channels to support future competitions.
9. We reserve the right to substitute prizes for equivalents where it is necessary. 

Watch the 2024 winner here