Mr Gove recently announced changes to A-Level examinations. The rationale was to make A-Level examinations more rigorous and difficult to pass and raise standards. The Historical Association supports a rigorous approach to A-Level study as the basis for further education and careers, whilst maintaining accessibility for all to the study...

This initiative has been celebrating the achievements of young historians in schools for over twenty years. It is largely funded by the Historical Association and the Spirit of Normandy Trust. It has an annual award scheme and also funds some special events, such as the annual Young Historian Day at...

This week, the government has announced news that steps will be taken to make A-Level examinations harder; this will include input from universities. Steps taken will make it more difficult to pass A-Level examinations and therefore result in a lowering of the numbers entering university. The government hopes that these...

A report by the Expert Panel for the National Curriculum review' In December the DfE published the ‘The Framework for the National Curriculum: A report by the Expert Panel for the National Curriculum review'.  The HA endorses the panel's recommendation that history should be part of the core curriculum for...

New Activity on the Thinking History Website: Decisions of a Kentish Villager, 1381Ian Dawson has had this activity sitting in his in-box for too long but other things, like editing 97 A level books got in the way, so he is delighted to finally get this activity onto the site.It was devised...

On the 11th November 1918, 93 years ago, Allied and German troops agreed to end the First World War. More than 8 million men and women saw service in the British forces during 'the war to end all wars', a significant proportion of the British population.       The National Archives is...

The Young Quills are shortlisted by young people, with adults involved at the end of the judging. Only historical fiction from the previous 12 months directly aimed at children and teenagers are included. And with just two categories based on age range the competition is fierce. The Young Quills are...

Findings from the Historical Association survey of secondary school history teachers in England 2011Authors: Dr Katharine Burn, Institute of Education and Dr Richard Harris, Southampton University(Summary and Full Survey Report attached below)This survey is carried out each year to monitor and evaluate history teaching and access to history in our...

The English Baccalaureate should not have been introduced before the National Curriculum Review was completed, according to a cross-party group of MPs. In a report published today (2 August 2011) the Education Select Committee suggests that any new performance or curriculum measures affecting schools should only be implemented after proper...

Write Your Own Historical Story Competition and the Joan Blyth Memorial Prize 2011.The competition this year has again been successful. We received 97 entries from 41 schools across England and Wales with far flung entries from St John's School in Cyprus, the British School in Muscat and furthest of all,...