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Building St James's spire: Louth's guilds and popular piety in the later middle ages
Virtual Branch Lecture Recording
Medieval historian Dr Claire Kennan continued our Virtual Branch series with a local history talk on the building of St James's spire, Louth.
In her talk Kennan traces the important role that Louth's major guilds of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Holy Trinity played in the building of the St James’s spire. Throughout the...
Building St James's spire: Louth's guilds and popular piety in the later middle ages
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Census 2021: using the census in the history classroom
Article
As we approach the next census in March 2021, we are reminded of what a rich historical source the census is. For historians, using the census can shine a light on particular people and places – a snapshot in time. Big stories can be told through a sharp local lens...
Census 2021: using the census in the history classroom
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EYFS Medium Term Plan - Toys and Games
Article
This EYFS Medium Term Plan is based around the theme of Toys and Games. It is designed to give teachers and early years practitioners different starting points for learning about the past, across all areas of learning. The activities could be led with a whole class or as small group...
EYFS Medium Term Plan - Toys and Games
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Film: What's the wisdom on... Historical Significance (Primary)
Article
Please note: the 'What's the Wisdom On' film series has been produced principally for secondary school history teachers, however some of the content is transferrable to a primary setting. Secondary members can view this film here
'What’s the wisdom on…' is a popular feature in our secondary journal Teaching History and provides the perfect stimulus for...
Film: What's the wisdom on... Historical Significance (Primary)
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Film: The life and legend of the Sultan Saladin
Article
Jonathan Phillips’s 2020 HA Virtual Conference keynote talk on The life and legend of the Sultan Saladin reveals how a man initially branded as ‘the son of Satan’ became so esteemed in Europe and, through extensive new research, we will follow how his character and achievements have acted as a role model for...
Film: The life and legend of the Sultan Saladin
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Scheme of work: Local history – the story of our High Street
Scheme of Work, KS1 History, Changes Within Living Memory (unresourced)
Teaching a unit that considers ‘changes within living times’ requires a focus that provides clear evidence of those changes. Children need to be able to identify specific differences as well as recognise relevant similarities. While we all still undertake shopping on a daily or weekly basis the processes involved in...
Scheme of work: Local history – the story of our High Street
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Recorded lecture: 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...
Recorded lecture: Henry V: Henry the Conqueror?
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Film: What's the wisdom on... Similarity and Difference (Primary)
Article
Please note: the 'What's the Wisdom On' film series has been produced principally for secondary school history teachers, however some of the content is transferrable to a primary setting. Secondary members can view the film here
'What’s the wisdom on…' is a popular feature in our secondary journal Teaching History and provides the perfect stimulus for a department meeting....
Film: What's the wisdom on... Similarity and Difference (Primary)
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Scheme of work: Journeys - the story of migration to Britain
Primary Scheme of Work, Key Stage 2 History (unresourced)
This unit is designed as a thematic course looking at the big picture of migration to Britain over time. There are many ways that the course can be adapted to include different content which may be more relevant for the local community around your school. Most of the content described in...
Scheme of work: Journeys - the story of migration to Britain
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Resourcing sources
HA Primary Subject Leader Area
As a subject leader, are you often asked to provide historical objects and other documentary sources to support your colleagues with the teaching of history, but don’t know where to start looking? Well – read on!
Teachers need to give children experience of handling a range of sources of information....
Resourcing sources
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Film: What's the wisdom on... Change and continuity (Primary)
Article
Please note: the 'What's the Wisdom On' film series has been produced principally for secondary school history teachers, however some of the content is transferrable to a primary setting. Secondary members can view the film here
We know how difficult life is for teachers in the current circumstances. We also understand your need...
Film: What's the wisdom on... Change and continuity (Primary)
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Film: Reimagining the Blitz Spirit
The mobilisation of World War II propaganda in our own times
Dr Jo Fox continued our virtual branch lecture series this July on the subject 'Reimagining the Blitz Spirit: the mobilisation of World War II propaganda in our own times'. Fox is the Director of the Institute of Historical Research and a well-known historian specialising in the history of propaganda, rumour and truth telling.
In this talk...
Film: Reimagining the Blitz Spirit
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Primary Scheme of Work: The Elizabethans
Primary Scheme of Work, Key Stage 2 History (resourced)
This unit provides children the opportunity to look at Elizabethan times as an aspect of British history that extends pupils' chronological knowledge beyond 1066.
This unit is supported by the following article: Bracey, P. (2018) The Elizabethans. All Banquets and fun? Primary History 80 (NB available to HA members only)
Key vocabulary:...
Primary Scheme of Work: The Elizabethans
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Primary History 45: History in the Foundation and Early Years
The primary education journal of the Historical Association
04 Editorial
05 2006-2007 Historical Association History and ICT project — Alf Wilkinson
08 Citizenship: Citizenship through the English National Curriculum’s The Romans In Britain Study Unit — Hilary Claire
10 In my view: consigning history to the history books — Denis Hayes
11 Introducing history into the KS1 curriculum...
Primary History 45: History in the Foundation and Early Years
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Primary History summer resource 2020: Historical Fiction
Article
This year's free summer resource for primary members explores historical fiction and how we can use it in our teaching and learning.
Historical fiction can be a potent tool for creating a ‘sense of period’, immersing us in the past through the power of narrative. When studying a particular historical period,...
Primary History summer resource 2020: Historical Fiction
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Film: What's the wisdom on... Evidence and sources (Primary)
Article
Please note: the 'What's the Wisdom On' film series has been produced principally for secondary school history teachers, however some of the content is transferrable to a primary setting. Secondary members can view the film here
We know how difficult life is for teachers in the current circumstances. We also understand your need...
Film: What's the wisdom on... Evidence and sources (Primary)
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Primary history and geography forum: climate education
HA CPD in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
Thursday 9 July, 4.15pm–6pm
Book Now
(Registration is via Cademy which opens in a new window/tab. Please read the HA CPD terms and conditions before registering)
About the event
Join the Historical Association and the Royal Geographical Society at this special online twilight forum event specifically for primary teachers of...
Primary history and geography forum: climate education
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Course: Assessment and progression in primary history
HA CPD course for primary history subject leaders and senior leaders
Book Now
(Registration is via Cademy which opens in a new window. Please read the HA CPD terms and conditions before registering)
Available dates
Summer term: Wednesday 11 June 2025, 9.30am–3.30pm (online)
What does the course cover?
This practical course will help primary teachers to understand the purpose of assessment...
Course: Assessment and progression in primary history
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Film: What's the wisdom on... Causation
Your Virtual History Department Meeting
We’ve been talking to our secondary school members and we know how difficult life is for teachers in the current circumstances, so we wanted to lend a helping hand.
'What’s the wisdom on…' is a brand-new and already popular feature in our secondary journal Teaching History and provides the perfect...
Film: What's the wisdom on... Causation
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Primary History Survey 2024: the results
The HA's biennial survey of history in primary schools
Children love history – it is accessible, interesting, there is a growth in diversity of content and it is inclusive for different abilities, according to our survey. This is down to the hard work and dedication of their teaching and support staff. It is great news for our young people....
Primary History Survey 2024: the results
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Raising the profile of history in your school
HA Primary Subject Leader Area
All too often, primary schools allow English and mathematics to steal the limelight, unwittingly pushing other subjects to one side. Now is the time to steal some of the limelight back. Whether you are a new subject leader or you have been leading the subject for years, you have a...
Raising the profile of history in your school
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Planning and reviewing primary history
HA Primary Subject Leader Area
While many aspects of the teaching of history will be covered in general school policies, e.g. assessment, much will also depend on the subject leader helping colleagues to teach history in a coherent and efficient way. The content of history is infinite and some guidance will be needed on how...
Planning and reviewing primary history
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Webinar series: Teaching ‘past and present’ in EYFS
HA webinar series for Early Years
This webinar series will support your teaching of ‘past and present’ at the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will help you to make sense of curriculum frameworks in EYFS, consider what makes effective pedagogy at EYFS, and develop curriculum coherence and transition to Key Stage 1.
How is the series...
Webinar series: Teaching ‘past and present’ in EYFS
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Leading History in an Independent School
HA Primary Subject Leader Area
In this piece Stuart explores some of the key considerations when leading history in an independent school, including the potential benefits and drawbacks of forging links with other schools, how you can use history to enrich the curriculum in the school, improving the level of CPD in your school, and...
Leading History in an Independent School
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The Bigger Picture: Curriculum Overview
HA Primary Subject Leader Area
In this piece Stuart looks at the ‘bigger picture’ of curriculum overview and how, through careful curriculum mapping and the exploration of key trends, topics can be structured to fit together within a wider chronological narrative. He provides practical approaches and examples, as well as discussing historical concepts that occur in...
The Bigger Picture: Curriculum Overview
