Webinar series: Making GCSE history accessible: supporting all learners at Key Stage 4
HA webinar series for history teachers, leaders and SENDCos

What does this series cover and why should I attend?
In recent years, the UK’s SEND system has been under the spotlight. As numbers of students with identified special educational needs increase, attention has been given to how to best embed inclusive practice, enabling teachers to support all students to access high quality learning. Every student has an entitlement to learn history and to high quality history teaching, and history teachers must consider how all students can be supported to access their subject.
In this webinar series, we will explore aspects of historical learning that might pose problems to GCSE students. Participants will reflect on their practice and receive support to make history accessible to all learners at Key Stage 4.
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How is the series structured and delivered?
The series consists of three webinars. We recommend watching live on the dates below. Recordings will also be available to booked delegates until the end of the term.
Literacy for historical thinking: supporting reading and writing at GCSE history
Monday 6 October, 4pm–5pm
Catherine PriggsThis 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
Tuesday 14 October, 4pm–5pm
Dale BanhamThis 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
Wednesday 5 November, 4pm–5pm
Gemma HargravesThis 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
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Who is the series for?
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.
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What are the learning outcomes?
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.
- • Support disciplinary literacy in history:
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Who is leading the series?
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.
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What does it cost?
Number of webinars booked
HA Member ticket
Non-member ticket
1 webinar £39 £70 3 webinars £105 £210 All prices are listed inclusive of VAT. Any webinar booked individually on Cademy will incur an additional fee.
To access the member price please provide your membership number when prompted. You must have a valid membership at the time of booking and attending. All webinars in this series are eligible for the corporate member free recording offer.
Did you know? If booking more than one webinar, it is cheaper to become an HA member and access your tickets at the membership rate, plus a range of other benefits all year round.
Find out more about Secondary membership. -
How do I take part?
The webinars will take place online over Zoom. While we strongly recommend participating live, if you are unable to attend for any reason a recording link will be made available. This will be emailed to all registered participants to access for a limited period.
To book for multiple webinars or request an invoice, please complete the form below.
If you have missed a session, a recording can be accessed using the form. You will be emailed an invoice for the cost of the recording(s) and a time-limited link to access the webinar recording on Zoom.
For any enquiries, please contact events@history.org.uk. Please read the HA CPD terms and conditions before registering.