The programme is partially self-directed, consisting of 13 modules averaging at 2 modules a week over the course of 7-8 weeks. During the programme you will be part of a cohort and required to attend 3 Zoom meetings, including an assessment meeting. You will need to complete the assessment in order to be certificated.

The course content is divided into ‘themes,’ ‘units’ and ‘segments’ to ensure some cohesion whilst still enabling it to be accessed in smaller or larger chunks to suit different delegates. The units cover:

• · Introduction to the role
• · Strategic planning
• · Curriculum leadership across Key Stages 3-5
• · Improving teaching across your team
• · Working with SLT and Ofsted
• · Fireside chats and soapboxes

This programme is designed for history teachers in secondary schools at any level of experience. You might be aspiring to become a subject leader, have just been appointed as a subject leader, or an experienced subject leader looking for fresh inspiration or direction.

If you’re based in a primary school, we also have a primary subject leader programme.

The CPD and education landscape is increasingly generic. The SLDP is an antidote to this: a programme to support, develop and up-skill you from a subject specific standpoint; to develop leaders of history, not just middle leaders. The course equips history leaders fully for the demands of the role, but specifically from a perspective of expertise in the history curriculum and pedagogy, maintaining the integrity of our subject.

It is designed carefully and inclusively to appeal to a broad audience—providing knowledge development for aspiring subject leaders, increased confidence for new subject leaders, and fresh inspiration for those who have been in post for some time, but feel they need additional support.

Whatever stage you are at, it will support you with both the strategic planning and practical approaches to develop your department, from making the case and developing a vision for history in your school to developing the capacity to see this through and continue to develop.

We have supported over 650 subject leaders since 2021 with many telling us that the programme directly supported their successful subject leadership job applications. Previous participants have especially valued having the opportunity to learn from the mentorship of experienced, expert subject leaders and the value of the cohort in building a mutually supportive network.

“The SLDP has been transformational. In fact, I’d say it been the best designed, delivered and impactful CPD I’ve had in 13 years of teaching. The advice given throughout the course has been invaluable. I trust that on the big themes such as curriculum design, strategic planning and improving teaching I’ve had summaries of the ‘best thinking’ from people who have already done it.”

“It was invaluable to hear from such presenters who were equally comfortable discussing the theoretical bases to approaches to management and curriculum design as they were in rooting their ideas in real-life, concrete scenarios and experiences.”

“It has increased my confidence in areas which I felt were holding me back from becoming Head of Department. I now feel more secure in my ongoing development and able to take the next steps in my career.”

“My advice to anyone considering taking part in the programme is, do it. For me, it more than lived up to my expectations, it met all my aims and has had an immediate impact on my practice. I managed to complete it whilst juggling a senior leadership and middle leadership role and with an OFSTED inspection thrown into the mix, so it is manageable. Most importantly it will provide all colleagues with both the skills and confidence to be able to ‘show off’ their department effectively for any inspection process. This newfound confidence will ultimately benefit your students.”

Participant testimony - Jim Carroll on the benefits of subject development for middle managers (PDF)

This course will:

• · Prepare you for the role of being a history subject leader/Help you refine your practice as a current history subject leader
• · Develop your confidence to lead a history department, including:
  •     - developing culture and leading a team of history teachers
  •     - curriculum leadership and development
  •     - leading subject CPD
  •     - improving teaching across your team
  •     - data analysis
  •     - communication with senior leaders

The course is led by a team of 6 experienced subject leaders: 

Sharon Aninakwa, FHA has thirteen years of school history teaching experience across Key Stages 3-5. Sharon leads a successful history department in London and has collaboratively designed an innovative diverse curriculum. She is particularly interested in curriculum cultures which are constructed around ethical considerations, and empowering pedagogies which centre student experience in the classroom. She currently sits on the HA Secondary Committee.

Elizabeth Carr FHA, CTHist is an assistant principal and curriculum and subject lead of humanities in Hertfordshire. She has over 10 years’ experience as a subject leader of history and as a mentor on the University of Cambridge History PGCE. Elizabeth is a managing editor of Teaching History and regularly delivers subject-specific CPD at local and national conferences.

David Hibbert FHA, CTHist teaches in Oxford and has eight years of experience leading history departments in schools. David has written for Teaching History and has presented at a range of events within and beyond history education over the last decade. He has also authored chapters and sections in books about teaching and learning in history and has written for textbooks.

Ruth Lingard, FHA is a PGCE Tutor for History at the University of York as well as a Head of History. She a strong interest in teaching a more representative history to her students and coordinates YorkClio, the network for History teachers in York and the surrounding area. A former member of the HA Secondary Committee, she has written and presented extensively on history education, including for Teaching History.

Catherine Priggs, FHA has been involved in history education for 15 years, during which time she has led and supported history departments within and outside her school setting as a specialist leader of education. Now working as an education consultant, she is a member of the HA Secondary Committee and a specialist assessor for two exam boards.

Hugh Richards, FHA is an experienced Head of History based at an 11-18 comprehensive school in York. Formerly a member of the HA Secondary Committee, he has regularly spoken at the HA conference as well as leading CPD provision across a range of topics relating to secondary history curriculum, pedagogy and subject leadership. Hugh's school is a Research School and he has worked regularly on applying cognitive science to the history classroom.

The course is charged at £150 for HA members and £218 for non-members (inclusive of VAT).

Did you know? It is cheaper to become a member and register at the membership rate, with access to range of other benefits all year round. Find out more about Secondary membership.

To register and access the content you will either need to have an active HA membership or a free basic account. You will need to be logged in to your account before you purchase this course.

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Please note that payment must be made online by card, and we do not issue VAT invoices for this course. You can request a VAT receipt following payment by emailing events@history.org.uk.

Please read the terms and conditions before registering.