Course: Becoming an effective primary history subject leader

Immersive online course for new, experienced and aspiring history leaders

(Registration is via Cademy which opens in a new window. Please read the HA CPD terms and conditions before registering)

Spring 2025 cohort

Start date: Wednesday 22 January 2025, 4pm–5.30pm

What does this course cover?

This is an online course for developing history leadership in primary teaching. This term, we will be piloting the course as an immersive programme covering the key elements of primary history subject leadership, enabling all involved in history leadership at primary to carry out their role effectively.

How is the course structured and delivered?

The course will take place in ten online sessions from January–May 2025. Sessions 1, 8 and 10 are compulsory to attend live. Participants will be required to complete a gap task after each session and contribute to an online reflection diary.

The other sessions will be recorded for participants to work through at their convenience, though participants are encouraged to attend the recording sessions live in order to make the most of the programme. All recordings will be made available on the course Moodle page within two working days of the live recording session.
What will each session cover?
Session 1: Introductory meeting (Live attendance)
Wednesday 22 January 2025, 4pm–5.30pm
- • Introduction and aims
- • Reflection activity on the current state of history in your school
- • Key responsibilities of the history subject leader
- • Current Ofsted implications for the subject and what to expect in an inspection
- • How the HA and latest Ofsted material can support you
Suggested gap tasks: Compiling an audit in line with the Ofsted EIF; reading the Ofsted subject report for history

Compulsory gap task: Start your reflection diary for the programme. If relevant, reflect on your priorities emerging from the audit.

Session 2: What makes an effective history subject leader? (Live and recorded)
Monday 27 January 2025, 4pm–5.30pm Read more
- • How to effectively support teachers and learners as a history leader
- • How to create a vision, lead change, and manage time
- • Effective action planning and improvement
- • Auditing your history provision and building your evidence trail
- • Developing an innovative, inclusive and effective history curriculum in your school
- • Disciplinary knowledge: What is history? What do historians do?
Suggested gap task: Conducting teacher and/or pupil voice questionnaires

Compulsory gap task: Add to your reflection diary for the programme. If relevant, reflect on how you will use the teacher questionnaire or pupil voice.
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Session 3: What makes effective teaching of history? (Live and recorded)
Wednesday 19 February 2025, 4–5.30pm Read more
- • The role of the teacher
- • Supporting SEND pupils
- • Securing substantive knowledge and concepts across the curriculum
- • How to support colleagues by identifying core knowledge
- • How to involve the whole staff in mapping out and embedding the progression of concepts across the curriculum
Suggested gap task: Consider SEND in your curriculum

Compulsory gap task: Add to your reflection diary for the programme reflecting on SEND
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Session 4: Curriculum and practice at EYFS (Live and recorded)
Tuesday 25 February 2025, 4–5.30pm Read more
- • Unpicking and supporting the requirements of the EYFS curriculum and Development Matters
- • Developing historical and chronological understanding in EYFS as part of Understanding the world
- • Progression and transition from EYFS to Key Stage 1
- • Ensuring coherence: how to start developing concepts
- • Making use of the local history on your doorstep for EYFS and KS1
- • Accessing resources and support for EYFS
Suggested gap task: Fact finding and liaison with EYFS and KS1 teachers

Compulsory gap task: Add to your reflection diary for the programme reflecting on current EYFS practice
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Session 5: Curriculum and practice at Key Stage 1 (Live and recorded)
Monday 3 March 2025, 4pm–5.30pm Read more
- • Unpicking and supporting the requirements of the National Curriculum for KS1
- • Progression: building upon transition from EYFS
- • What do KS1 require before KS2?
- • Ensuring coherence: further developing the school’s chosen substantive concepts
- • How to develop disciplinary concepts
- • Developing appropriate chronological understanding in KS1
- • Enhancing and engaging children’s knowledge and retention through enquiry
- • The use of working walls in KS1 to support learning
- • Accessing resources and support for KS1
Suggested gap task: Check your KS1 curriculum for coverage and progression, building upon what they have learnt in EYFS

Compulsory gap task: Add to your reflection diary for the programme reflecting on KS1 practice in your setting
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Session 6: Curriculum and practice at Key Stage 2 (Live and recorded)
Tuesday 11 March 2025, 4pm–5.30pm Read more
- • Unpicking and supporting the requirements of the National Curriculum for KS2
- • How to incorporate local history with progression in KS2
- • What do we want the children in Year 6 to leave with?
- • Developing appropriate chronological understanding in KS2: ensuring that children have a secure mental timeline in local, national and global history by the time they leave primary school
- • Preparing for transition to Key Stage 3
- • Ensuring coherence: building upon the school’s chosen concepts for progression
- • What the HA can do to support the teaching of KS2 units?
- • Resources and support for KS2
Suggested gap task: Check your KS2 curriculum for coverage and progression, building upon what they have learnt in EYFS and KS1

Compulsory gap task: Add to your reflection diary for the programme reflecting on KS2 practice in your setting
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Session 7: Approaching sensitive issues in history (Live and recorded)
Tuesday 18 March 2025, 4pm–5.30pm Read more
- • What do we mean by diversity in history and why is it important?
- • How to ensure a wider diversity in your history teaching
- • Barriers to making the curriculum more diverse and how to overcome them
- • Approaches to sensitive issues in history lessons, including:
  - Refugees and migration history
  - War
  - Climate change: How can we help children to understand history's role in the story of climate change in in age-appropriate ways?
Suggested gap task: Consider opportunities for increasing diverse voices and raising climate issues in your curriculum.

Compulsory gap task: Add to your reflection diary for the programme considering how you might address the sensitive or current issues raised in this session.
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Session 8: Interim review meeting (Live attendance)
Tuesday 25 March 2025, 4pm–5.30pm Read more
- • A review session allowing subject leaders to reflect upon their progress so far
- • Opportunity to respond to suggestions, clarify information, or raise issues from the previous sessions
- • Time to ask questions, share good practice or recommended resources with the rest of the cohort
Suggested gap task: Time to follow up on anything raised in this session or to complete any previous tasks, following clarification and inspiration from this session

Compulsory gap task: Add to your reflection diary for the programme, reflecting on your priorities and actions using suggestions from the presenter or other delegates
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Session 9: Assessment and evidence
Wednesday 30 April 2025, 4pm–5.30pm Read more
- • Assessment and expectations
- • Extended writing opportunities in history:
  - Supporting colleagues to use history-specific writing examples
  - Alternative assessment methods and inclusion
- • Triangulating the evidence
- • Intention and implementation in teachers’ planning and its impact
- • What to look for in a work scrutiny
Suggested gap task: Conduct a work scrutiny on one aspect to check across the school, in conjunction with a focused pupil voice on the same aspect

Compulsory gap task: Add to your reflection diary considering how you will conduct a work scrutiny and what you will focus on – or, if relevant, reflect on what you discovered and how you will address any issues
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Session 10: Final meeting (Live attendance)
Wednesday 14 May 2025, 4pm–5.30pm Read more
- • Following up any requests arising from the interim meeting (Session 8)
- • Discussion or clarification of any issues arising from previous sessions
- • Discussion of priorities, next steps and any issues
- • Sharing ideas for enthusing others and leading staff meetings: “What worked for me?”
- • Communicating with headteachers, governors, colleagues and parents
- • Are you ready for the HA Quality Mark?
Suggested gap task: Identifying your school’s next steps

Compulsory gap task: Complete your final piece in your reflection diary.
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Who is the course for?

This programme is designed for anyone who is a subject coordinator or subject leader for history in their primary school. You may have just been appointed as a subject leader, or be more experienced but looking for formal training or fresh inspiration and direction.
What are the learning outcomes?
This course will:
- equip you fully for the demands of history leadership in primary schools
- increase your confidence to develop an innovative, inclusive and effective history curriculum in your school
- develop your understanding of efficient action planning and how to make a wider impact
- help you to make the case for history with senior leaders
- enable you to enthuse others and lead staff meetings about history
- develop your understanding of current issues in primary history education
The course will include a chance to share resources and assessment approaches, plus much more.
Who are the course leaders?

This course is led by Chris Trevor FHA, a primary education consultant with many years' experience of teaching every year in the primary age range. She was previously a member of the Historical Association primary committee and the history, geography and creative cross-curricular adviser for Cheshire. She also presents the course Practical approaches to teaching primary history.

What does it cost?

The course is charged at £250 for HA members, £350 non-members (inc VAT)

Did you know? It is cheaper to become an HA corporate member and access your tickets at the membership rate, plus a range of other benefits all year round. Find out more about Corporate primary membership.

How do I book?

Booking is now available via this link. Registration is via Cademy which opens in a new window. Please read the terms and conditions before registering.

For any enquiries, please contact Olivia at events@history.org.uk.

Spring 2025 cohort

What does this course cover?

How is the course structured and delivered?

What will each session cover?

Who is the course for?

What are the learning outcomes?

Who are the course leaders?

What does it cost?

How do I book?

Links: