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Teaching Ancient Egypt: developing subject knowledge
Primary History article
Ancient Egypt is one of the most popular societies taught in primary schools. In this article Karin Doull argues the importance of having a coherent approach to the content. Much of the article focuses on the key areas that teachers may wish to consider if they are to achieve a...
Teaching Ancient Egypt: developing subject knowledge
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His Majesty King Charles III to continue royal patronage of the Historical Association
23rd May 2024
Professor Alexandra Walsham, President of the Historical Association (HA), said ‘I am delighted that King Charles III will succeed his late mother Queen Elizabeth II as our royal patron. This appointment could not be more fitting as the king himself studied history at university.’
The study of history – for...
His Majesty King Charles III to continue royal patronage of the Historical Association
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Leopold von Ranke - Pamphlet
Classic Pamphlet
Leopold von Ranke (21 December 1795 - 23 May 1886) was a German historian and a founder of modern source-based history. According to Caroline Hoefferle, "Ranke was probably the most important historian to shape historical profession as it emerged in Europe and the United States in the late 19th century." ...
Leopold von Ranke - Pamphlet
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Getting medieval (and global) at Key Stage 3
Teaching History article
Taking new historical research into the classroom: getting medieval (and global) at Key Stage 3
Although history teachers frequently work with academic historical writing, direct face-to-face encounters with academic historians are rare in secondary history classrooms. This article reports a collaboration between an academic historian and a history teacher that...
Getting medieval (and global) at Key Stage 3
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Recorded webinar: History for All - Approaches from the Special Sector
History for all series
Whilst many teachers in mainstream schools now have useful links with primary coordinators and have a working knowledge of how the curriculum is approached and implemented in Key Stages 1&2, few colleagues have contact with special schools and the expertise which our colleagues in special education can share with us...
Recorded webinar: History for All - Approaches from the Special Sector
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Scots Abroad in the Fifteenth Century
Classic Pamphlet
(Historical Association Pamphlet, No. 124, 1942)
Dunlop's research into the occupations and attitudes of Scots abroad during the 15th century uncovers some surprising revelations about all members of the Scottish ex-pat society.
She particularly notes the ‘scurrilous' opinions of the French regarding Scotsmen's behaviour. While Scottish diplomatists and envoys tended...
Scots Abroad in the Fifteenth Century
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The Origins of the British Empire
Early Modern World History
In this podcast Professor Trevor Burnard of the University of Warwick looks at the the primary forces which led to the development of the British Empire, the role of commerce and trade, the role of war in imperial expansion during this period and the importance of the slave trade.
The Origins of the British Empire
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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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Teaching History 177: Out now
The HA's journal for secondary history teachers
Read Teaching History 177
Building Knowledge
As regular readers will know, the theme for each issue of Teaching History is usually determined in response to the range of proposals that the editors receive. Given the current focus within the education system in England on how knowledge is built cumulatively over...
Teaching History 177: Out now
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Ideas for Assemblies: Empowering pupils to understand the First World War
Article
Remembering the Battle of the Somme and other events within the First World War will be popular features of primary assemblies as part of the centenary commemorations. Yet primary teachers are often concerned about how to explore a topic as challenging as the First World War with such a young...
Ideas for Assemblies: Empowering pupils to understand the First World War
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Subject leaders: supporting colleagues to develop their subject knowledge
Primary History article
Many teachers are especially concerned about subject knowledge and knowing what to teach. Using the example of the ancient Egyptians, this article focuses on how a subject leader can support colleagues develop and use their subject knowledge to become more adept at teaching.
One of the most frequent concerns of...
Subject leaders: supporting colleagues to develop their subject knowledge
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Young Quills 2025
16th April 2025
Each year, the Historical Association runs Young Quills, a competition for published historical fiction for children and young adults (14+). The Young Quills books for each year must be published for the first time in English in the year preceding the competition – so 2024 for this year’s selection.
Our...
Young Quills 2025
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Creativity, Imagination, and Fun in Primary History
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the current National Curriculum and some content, references and links are outdated.
Tim Lomas describes a variety of learning activities that primary schools children enjoy.
Creativity, Imagination, and Fun in Primary History
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Teaching History 189: Out now
The HA's journal for secondary history teachers
Read Teaching History 189: Collaboration
Teaching requires many kinds of knowledge, which has many different sources. One of those sources of knowledge is other professionals. But history teachers are not simply passive receivers of settled bodies of knowledge produced by others. As the pages of Teaching History attest, there is...
Teaching History 189: Out now
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Move Me On 184: struggling to see beyond tightly regimented teaching strategies
Teaching History feature
Move Me On is designed to build critical, informed debate about the character of teacher training, teacher education and professional development. It is also designed to offer practical help to all involved in training new history teachers. Each issue presents a situation in initial teacher education/training with an emphasis upon...
Move Me On 184: struggling to see beyond tightly regimented teaching strategies
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Where are we? The place of women in history curricula
Teaching History article
Joanne Pearson reflects on her experiences as a history teacher and teacher educator, considering the ways in which she has seen women represented in the history curricula of different schools in England. She makes the case that greater attention needs to be paid by history teachers to the criteria against...
Where are we? The place of women in history curricula
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Online course: Ofsted subject reports: supporting quality history and geography
Primary CPD in partnership with the Geographical Association
The Ofsted history and geography subject reports of 2023 highlighted several areas of strength and improvement in primary schools. However, it emphasised that pupils’ experience of both subjects and disciplines could differ significantly between schools.
We are pleased to offer another opportunity to attend this supportive, practical one-day course from the...
Online course: Ofsted subject reports: supporting quality history and geography
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The Stone Age conundrum
Making use of a local site to develop historical knowledge
History – the very word makes the primary teacher in me feel excited. There are simply so many variables, so many dark nooks and crannies of history to explore and so many different angles through which to draw in a class of eager young minds. Thanks to a wellexecuted history...
The Stone Age conundrum
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Britain's Retreat from Empire
20th Century British History
In this podcast Professor A J Stockwell looks at Britain's retreat from Empire from 1914, examining how and why this retreat began, the pressure for independence across the Empire, new imperialism, the changing relationship between rulers and ruled, how Britain attempted to manage retreat, decolonisation and the legacy of the...
Britain's Retreat from Empire
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Get into Teaching
Considering a career in teaching?
Teaching – and especially teaching history! – can be a wonderful and rewarding career. The HA have many years experience working with primary and secondary teachers from trainee level through to heads of history and we're here to help you on your path. We have a comprehensive set of guides and resources for anyone...
Get into Teaching
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Virtual Branch Recording: Henry V, Henry the Conqueror?
Article
Henry V - Henry the Conqueror?
In this lecture former HA President Anne Curry Emeritus Professor of Medieval History Southampton addresses the question Henry V - Henry the Conqueror?'. She explores the relationship between Henry V, his court and those in France.
(Please note: if you have HA Membership and are...
Virtual Branch Recording: Henry V, Henry the Conqueror?
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Local study: Fulwell Windmill
Lesson Plan
Please note: This article pre-dates the current National Curriculum and some content and references may be outdated.
The lesson formed part of a local study of Fulwell and Fulwell Windmill in Sunderland. It could also be taught as part of the Victorian Britain Study Unit. The children had already looked at maps and...
Local study: Fulwell Windmill
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Each man's life was worth 1sh 1d 1/2d!
Historian article
Alf Wilkinson explores Britain's biggest coal mining disaster, at Senghenydd Colliery, in South Wales, in October 1913.
At ten past eight in the morning of Tuesday 14 October 1913, just after 900 men had started work underground, an explosion ripped through Senghenydd Colliery, near Caerphilly, killing 439 miners and, later...
Each man's life was worth 1sh 1d 1/2d!
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Bringing the Civil War to life in Somerset
Primary History article
As a lecturer in education teaching humanities at Plymouth University, I spend my time encouraging student teachers to move away from writing lesson plans with a focus on research and recording, to creating lessons that are dynamic – engaging children in historical activities to develop a passion for history. Student...
Bringing the Civil War to life in Somerset
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Move Me On 147: Making Analogies Meaningful
Teaching History feature
This issue's problem: Emma Norman finds the analogies that she's using to make historical ideas meaningful end up distracting or confusing the students.
Emma has come into history teaching after a number of years at home looking after children. Her previous work was as a fundraiser for an environmental campaign group,...
Move Me On 147: Making Analogies Meaningful
