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Planning and reviewing primary history
HA Primary Subject Leader Area
While many aspects of the teaching of history will be covered in general school policies, e.g. assessment, much will also depend on the subject leader helping colleagues to teach history in a coherent and efficient way. The content of history is infinite and some guidance will be needed on how...
Planning and reviewing primary history
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Insights from a year of leading the development of a ‘knowledge-rich curriculum’
Primary History article
Raynville Primary School serves a highly disadvantaged area of West Leeds and we work hard to provide our children with the best opportunities to learn and enjoy their time with us. One jewel in the crown of our school’s curriculum is children’s historical learning as part of a knowledge-rich curriculum....
Insights from a year of leading the development of a ‘knowledge-rich curriculum’
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Embedding progress in historical vocabulary teaching
Primary History article
The current focus on a knowledge-rich curriculum, in which the intent and impact should be clearly identified, has seen many subject leaders scrutinising and reworking the history curriculum within their contexts.
As part of this, specific vocabulary, be it conceptual or otherwise, has been highlighted, and word lists are appearing...
Embedding progress in historical vocabulary teaching
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Using the back cover image: Communications
Primary History feature
Exploring the everyday objects that shaped our lives in the not too distant past can prove to be exciting historical challenges for primary age children. While we might remember or be familiar with the objects and their use, they can provide confusion for children. This is in part because of...
Using the back cover image: Communications
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Primary History 84
The primary education journal of the Historical Association
04 Editorial (Read article for free)
05 HA Primary News
08 Using stories to support early history skills and understanding in the EYFS – Sandra Kirkland (Read article)
10 Democratising history lessons in Key Stage 1: how pupil voice shapes history teaching and learning in our school – Stuart Boydell...
Primary History 84
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Landowners and their motives for change at the Suffolk village of Culford between 1793 and 1903
Historian article
Isabel Jones from Thomas Mills High School at Framlingham was the winner of the Young Historian Award for Local History [16-19] in 2006. The Director of the Young Historian Project, Trevor James, has edited her winning essay. It has been shortened and the footnotes removed, to enable it to fit...
Landowners and their motives for change at the Suffolk village of Culford between 1793 and 1903
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Webinar series: Coherence at Key Stage 4
HA webinar series for subject leaders and teachers of history
What does this series cover?
This series of webinars will consider coherence at Key Stage 4. We will reflect on using sequencing to establish coherence, how different categories of coherence can be used to inform our planning and delivery of GCSE, and how meaningful approaches to assessment will allow pupils’...
Webinar series: Coherence at Key Stage 4
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New editorial team for the journal ‘History’
26th November 2024
The Historical Association is pleased to announce a new editorial team of the journal History. The Humanities Department of Northumbria University will be hosting an outstanding group of academics and scholars as the new commissioners and editors of the journal which was founded in 1912.
Becky Sullivan, CEO of the...
New editorial team for the journal ‘History’
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Celebrating success and recognising achievements – the Quality Mark evening!
The Historical Association's Quality Mark for History
On Friday 8 November 2024 there was a glittering event for those schools who have achieved the Quality Mark (QM) for History. We wanted to celebrate those who have put in the hard work and dedication to raise the standard of education, awareness, knowledge and enjoyment of history teaching in their...
Celebrating success and recognising achievements – the Quality Mark evening!
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Linking Law: Viking and medieval Scandinavian law in literature and history
Historian article
Ongoing interdisciplinary developments have cast light on the surprisingly sophisticated world of Viking-age and medieval Scandinavian law and its wide-ranging influence in these societies.
In many ways, the Viking Age and its inhabitants are more familiar than ever before. From video games to television and films, new narrative frontiers and bigger...
Linking Law: Viking and medieval Scandinavian law in literature and history
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My Favourite History Place: Gladstone’s Library at Hawarden
Historian feature
When I first visited Gladstone’s residential library in 1977 for a pre-university History degree reading week, I barely knew who Gladstone was. I had just come back from a holiday in Italy and the contrast between Florence and Hawarden, a Welsh border town, was startling. I came from the sunny remains...
My Favourite History Place: Gladstone’s Library at Hawarden
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Get involved in ‘The Historian’
15th October 2024
The Historian is a members’ magazine and we want to hear from you. We know that many of our readers are actively involved in history in some way and we would love you to share your stories with other members – who knows what you might inspire!
The editorial board...
Get involved in ‘The Historian’
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The Bigger Picture: Curriculum Overview
HA Primary Subject Leader Area
In this piece Stuart looks at the ‘bigger picture’ of curriculum overview and how, through careful curriculum mapping and the exploration of key trends, topics can be structured to fit together within a wider chronological narrative. He provides practical approaches and examples, as well as discussing historical concepts that occur in...
The Bigger Picture: Curriculum Overview
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Exploring and Teaching Twentieth-Century History
A secondary education publication of the Historical Association
This resource is free to everyone. For access to our library of high-quality secondary history materials along with free or discounted CPD and membership of a thriving community of history teachers and subject leaders, join the Historical Association today
For a long time, history curricula on the 20th century prioritised...
Exploring and Teaching Twentieth-Century History
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Anatomy of enquiry: deconstructing an approach to history curriculum planning
Teaching History article
It is almost 20 years since Michael Riley first invited Key Stage 3 history teachers to ‘choose and plant’ their enquiry questions. Many members of the history education community have taken up that invitation, making use of overarching enquiry questions to structure students’ learning. But what is meant by enquiry...
Anatomy of enquiry: deconstructing an approach to history curriculum planning
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Write Your Own Historical Fiction competition 2024 – the winners
The HA's writing competition for children aged 10-15 years
Real history contains some of the most fanciful, exciting, worrying and incredible stories – learning about the past can open our eyes to how people have interacted with the world and each other for centuries. It is not surprising that alongside the real history most cultures and traditions have a...
Write Your Own Historical Fiction competition 2024 – the winners
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Film: The Kennedys and the Gores
HA Conference 2019 - Keynote Speech
This film was taken at the HA Annual Conference 2019 in Chester and features the HA's President: Professor Tony Badger who presented Friday's keynote lecture.
Find out more about the HA Conference.
In a country that prides itself on its egalitarianism and its democracy, it is perhaps surprising that family...
Film: The Kennedys and the Gores
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Royal Holloway launches 'Inclusive Histories' project
18th September 2024
Royal Holloway, University of London has launched a £1.5 million project to support teachers with more inclusive UK political history resources.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) backed project will also support the AQA GCSE History specification, ‘Britain: Power and the People c1170 to the present day’.
This ‘Inclusive...
Royal Holloway launches 'Inclusive Histories' project
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Helen Snelson, 1969–2024
30th August 2024
It is with deep regret that we share the news that our good friend, supporter and Deputy President Helen Snelson passed away at the end of August. After her cancer recurred, she spent her final few days with her husband David, close family and friends.
Helen was a passionate history...
Helen Snelson, 1969–2024
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Teaching sensitive subjects: slavery and Britain’s role in the trade
Primary History article
See also:
Teaching Slavery - HA guide
Slavery in Britain
Sarah Forbes Bonetta - scheme of work
Teaching Emotive and Controversial History
Diversity guidance for primary teachers and subject leaders
Slavery is a part of our history, and its impact can be seen in the statues of influential men, the...
Teaching sensitive subjects: slavery and Britain’s role in the trade
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Making the most of a census
Primary History article
This article looks at how children can utilise and manipulate mathematical data to make sense of a historic past. The focus is on helping children see the numbers as a resource for understanding the experiences of those that lived in this place.
Aim: Understand historical concepts such as continuity and...
Making the most of a census
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Young Historian Awards 2026 – take part (Primary prizes)
History competition for primary schools
The 2026 competition is now open. Entries close on 17 July 2026 (3 July for overseas entries).
We want young people to get the bug for writing about history in an interesting and critical way. Each year the Historical Association in collaboration with the Spirit of Normandy Trust and Classics for All offers a...
Young Historian Awards 2026 – take part (Primary prizes)
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Young Historian Awards 2026 – take part (Secondary prizes)
History competition for students
The 2026 competition is now open. Entries close on 17 July 2026 (3 July for overseas entries).
Researching, writing and presenting ideas about a historical theme or period is one of the best parts about studying history. We want young school and college aged students to get the bug for...
Young Historian Awards 2026 – take part (Secondary prizes)
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Film: Tackling superpower relations with lower-ability students
Secondary History Workshop Annual Conference 2019
This secondary workshop took place at at the Historical Association Annual Conference, Chester, May 2019.
It looked at ways of helping lower-ability students at GCSE access lesson and revision content based around superpower relations in the cold war, but is applicable to any subject area. Through a series of games and...
Film: Tackling superpower relations with lower-ability students
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Webinar series: Medieval political ideas and activity in global context
Funded webinar series for secondary teachers from the HA and the Noblesse Oblige research network
Medieval history is often a story of kings and their dates, primarily of England or, at best, western Europe. This funded webinar series aimed at secondary history teachers will introduce teachers to educational approaches to the Middle Ages that go beyond both kings and this narrow geographical range.
It takes...
Webinar series: Medieval political ideas and activity in global context
