Teacher Fellowship programme: Henry on Tour: Teaching the royal progresses of Henry VIII

Teacher Fellowship programme 2025

With an emphasis on sustained professional development, the HA Teacher Fellowship programme aims to bring teachers up to date with the latest historical research and how to apply this in their teaching. We are delighted to announce our next funded Teacher Fellowship programme in partnership with the AHRC-funded Henry on Tour project, which will look to find a new perspective on the Tudors.

​​The project seeks to explore, evaluate and reconceptualise Henry VIII’s progresses, mapping their complete itinerary for the first time and charting their impact on sixteenth-century landscapes and communities. Led by Historic Royal Palaces in collaboration with the Universities of York and Newcastle, the project will explore the significance of the progresses in demonstrating kingship and queenship, and their legacy for our national heritage and the study and interpretation of the Tudors.

Attention will be focused on the ‘logistics’ and ‘performance’ of the progresses and on the diverse communities associated with them – not only the relationship between the crown and the courtiers, clergy and civic hosts, but also the peripatetic Chapel Royal and understudied groups such as servants, suppliers, craftspersons and musicians, whose hidden histories will be revealed.

Participants will work closely with academics from the Henry on Tour project team and experienced teacher educator Geraint Brown to draw on their professional expertise and develop resources for classroom use. The programme will begin with a weekend residential at Hampton Court on 9–11 January 2025 (dates subject to change).

Applications are now open, see below for details. If you have any questions, please contact Maheema Chanrai at maheema.chanrai@history.org.uk

  • How is the programme funded?

    This Teacher Fellowship programme is funded by the Henry on Tour project in partnership with the Historical Association. The Henry on Tour project is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

    This funding ensures that attendance, accommodation and catering will be covered for all participants for the programme. Travel costs will be reimbursed.

  • Who is leading the programme?

    The programme will be led by experienced history education consultant Geraint Brown. Participants will work closely with Geraint and the Henry on Tour project team to draw on their professional expertise and develop resources for classroom use.

    Meet the Henry on Tour project team

  • What is the structure of the programme, and what is expected of me?

    The programme is split into multiple stages, which are outlined below.

    Preparation
    - Once accepted onto the programme, we would expect participants to undertake some preparatory reading and complete introductory tasks.
    - Participants are expected to organise their own travel to London for the residential and submit an expenses request.

    Residential
    - The programme begins formally with an in-person residential from 9–11 January 2025 in London. Attendance is compulsory and contribution to discussions is expected.

    Online course
    - The programme continues in the spring term with an 8-week online course which will take place from January to March 2025. Participants are expected to take an active part in the online course, posting and commenting in response to others each week. We expect a minimum of 3-4 hours each week to be spent reading, preparing for and participating in the online course discussions.

    Resource development
    - Attendance is compulsory at a one-day workshop on Saturday 29 March to explore and agree course outcomes. Following this, participants will be expected to work on their outcome resource with support from the course leaders.
    - Outcome resource development and reflection. We would expect draft resources to be submitted in June 2025. Once feedback has been received, participants are expected to incorporate any revisions and trial the resource in class before submitting their final resource in spring September.

    Resource editorial and publication
    - If participants wish for their resource to be published on the HA website, and provided it is assessed up to standard, they are expected to engage fully with the revision and editorial process until spring 2026.

  • How will I be assessed on the programme?

    You will be awarded a Historical Association Teacher Fellowship on the successful creation and submission of a written resource for the benefit of other teachers by the end of the programme. Work will be assessed by a selection panel including representatives from the HA and project team. Please note that copyright for any material you produce during this programme will be assigned to the HA.

  • Am I eligible to apply?

    The programme is open to all UK secondary history teachers with a minimum of 3 years’ experience teaching history (including this academic year). Please note that greater weight will be given to those in state-funded schools. There are 10 places available on the programme.

    Applicants must ensure that they have approval from their senior leadership team before applying and being accepted onto the programme. You will be asked to supply your headteacher's contact details should we need to contact them for a reference.

    Successful applicants will need to be members of the HA at the time of commencing the programme (either individual or school membership).

  • What are the application criteria?

    Essential criteria

    • - Commitment to enhancing the teaching of this subject in your school
    • - Enthusiasm for your history teaching and developing your subject knowledge
    • - An ability to plan rigorous and engaging learning
    • - An ability to write for an audience of other teachers

     
    Desirable criteria

    • - A reasonable background and working knowledge of the period
    • - Experience in sharing your work with other teachers
    • - Experience leading CPD or mentoring other teachers

     
    Successful applicants will be expected to do some preparatory reading for the programme and will be supplied with a reading list accordingly.

  • How do I apply?

    Applications for the programme will be open until 10:00 on Monday 4 November 2024.

    HA Teacher Fellowship application form: Henry on Tour | Teaching the royal progresses of Henry VIII (Google Forms)

    In addition to asking some personal information and reference details, the application form will ask the following questions.

    1. 1. Tell us why you want to join the programme, what you and your school hope to gain from your involvement, and why you think you are a suitable person to participate in this programme (maximum 5,000 characters, including spaces)

    2. 2. Outline a series of teaching activities or lessons that you are particularly proud of, reflecting upon how and why this has been a success. If you are unsure about the kind of thing you might choose, you could refer to Teaching History's Triumphs Show articles for inspiration (maximum 4,000 characters, including spaces)

    3. 3. Please give us an example of a teaching resource that you have written or worked on, e.g. lesson resource, scheme of work, curriculum map or other planning document. Ideally this would be the resource referred to in Question 2 above, and should preferably cover an aspect of the Teacher Fellowship content.

    Applicants can expect to hear back from the selection panel by the end of November 2024.