On a hot July evening a crowd gathered in central London for the HA awards evening. This annual event is a highlight of the HA calendar as it provides an opportunity to celebrate the strengths of the history community and to recognise individual contributions and achievements. The evening was well attended with guests from across the education, academic and publishing worlds.

Young Quills awards

The evening began with the announcement of the Young Quills winners of 2025. 

“Historical Fiction is one of the most important ways to introduce young people to the importance of history and to maintain a fascination with the subject as students’ own historical knowledge develops. Before TV documentaries and textbooks, carefully crafted fiction can open up the historical landscape inside the minds of young people prompting them to ask questions, seek answers and want more, paving the way for future generations of history enthusiasts and heritage preservers.” Paula Kitching, Chair of judges for the Young Quills. 

A number of the authors were present to accept their awards, presented by Paula Kitching.

• See the Young Quills winners and highly commended for 2025

Teacher Fellows and Chartered Teacher of History

Next up were the education awards. Maheema Chanrai from the Education and CPD team congratulated the teachers who completed our latest Teacher Fellowship programme and whose resources for other teachers to use will be published in the autumn. She also highlighted those teachers who have achieved Chartered Teacher status.

• Teacher Fellowship: Teaching the economic history of colonialism in Africa and Asia
• Support the HA’s Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Teacher Fellowship Programme
• Find out more about Primary Chartered Teacher and Secondary Chartered Teacher awards.

Honorary Fellows

HA CEO Rebecca Sullivan announced the Honorary Fellows, starting with a moving tribute to the three Holocaust Survivors who have been given Honorary Fellowships in recognition of their work in education and in memory of all the victims of the Nazis at this the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and of the Holocaust.

The remaining fellows, announced alphabetically, demonstrate the rich contribution that our members and supporters make to the history community. Fellows included teachers, branch members, academics and authors.

• See this year's Honorary Fellows

The Medlicott Medal

The final part of the evening is always dedicated to the Medlicott Medal for history. This award seeks to recognise individuals from a diversity of backgrounds for their service to history. The 2025 award went to Dr Christine Counsell OBE who has served the history education community for over three decades. Dr Counsell is the 39th recipient of the Medlicott Medal. As is the custom she gave the evening’s keynote talk, the title of which she had chosen to be ‘Our fragile strength: history teachers as story shapers’. In the talk she explored and brought to life the importance that stories provide for learning about the past as well as for understanding history, questioning events and developing a sense of time and people.

It was a fascinating talk that made the whole audience aware of the art of nurturing people’s interest in history rather than simply imparting facts and opinions.

• HA members can watch the full talk here.

If you are interested in nominating someone for one of our awards please contact the HA via enquiries@history.org.uk.