The series consists of three webinars each lasting approximately 1 hour. The webinar series was originally recorded in Spring 2026.

Literacy for historical thinking: supporting reading and writing at GCSE history 
Catherine Priggs

This session explores the essential literacy skills required to engage effectively with history at Key Stage 4. Participants will examine the unique demands of historical reading and writing and learn strategies to scaffold tasks that develop pupils’ ability to analyse sources, construct arguments, and communicate historical ideas clearly.

Key topics:

• - Understanding the literacy challenges specific to historical texts and tasks
• - Strategies to enhance comprehension of complex historical sources and narratives
• - Scaffolding writing skills to support the construction of clear and persuasive historical arguments

Making it stick: enhancing memory retention for pupils with SEND in GCSE history 
Dale Banham

This session explores how to help SEND learners retain historical knowledge by applying research-informed strategies that reduce cognitive overload and support long-term memory formation within the context of history teaching.

Key topics:

• - Applying cognitive load theory to history-specific content and tasks
• - Using dual coding, retrieval practice, and spaced learning frameworks to support retention
• - Embedding effective homework, revision routines and explicit instruction to strengthen pupils’ historical schema

Supporting the whole pupil: building confidence and inclusion in GCSE history
Gemma Hargraves

This session explores some of the hidden barriers faced by neurodivergent pupils in the history classroom, including anxiety and low self-confidence. It offers practical strategies to create an inclusive and supportive environment that enables all learners to engage meaningfully with historical learning.

Key topics:

• - Recognising common anxiety triggers in history education
• - Building learner confidence through inclusive pedagogical approaches
• - Understanding and responding to the needs of neurodivergent pupils in GCSE history

The course is for anyone who teaches history at GCSE, including history subject leaders, seconds in department/TLR postholders and aspiring subject leaders. It is also relevant for SENDCos.

This webinar series will enable you to: 

• • Support disciplinary literacy in history:
  Develop strategies to scaffold pupils’ engagement with historical texts and written tasks, enabling all learners to access and construct historical narratives, arguments, and explanations. 
  
  
• • Strengthen recall through research-informed practice: 
  Apply evidence-based approaches - such as retrieval practice and schema-building - to support SEND learners in retaining key historical knowledge and making meaningful connections over time. 
  
  
• • Promote an inclusive culture in the Key Stage 4 history classroom: 
  Create classroom environments that recognise and respond to the diverse cognitive and emotional needs of learners, ensuring equitable access to high-quality historical learning. 

Catherine Priggs is a freelance education consultant. She is a member of the Historical Association’s Secondary Committee and a specialist assessor for two exam boards.

Dale Banham is a history teacher in a large comprehensive in Ipswich. He is an author of GCSE textbooks and is an honorary fellow of both the Historical Association and the Schools History Project. 

Gemma Hargraves is a Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral) overseeing SEND and teaching history. She is a member of the Historical Association’s Secondary Committee and has previously been an A-level examiner and team leader.

Meet our CPD presenters

Each webinar is charged at £30 for HA members and £45 for non-members (VAT is zero-rated). You must be logged in to your membership account to access the member rate.

You can purchase and access each set of webinars using the links provided. 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.

Expiry date: 30 April 2028

Payment is available by card only. We are unable to arrange block purchases or issue invoices, but VAT receipts are available upon request.