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New, Novice or Nervous? 162: GCSE Thematic Study
Teaching History feature: the quick guide to the no-quick-fix
Thematic studies have been a long-standing feature of the Schools History Project (SHP) GCSE specifications in England and Wales; but for teachers of ‘Modern World’ GCSE specifications, the thematic study in the new GCSE specifications for teaching in England from September 2016 is unfamiliar territory. Perhaps you are entirely new...
New, Novice or Nervous? 162: GCSE Thematic Study
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AS & A2 History
Article
My complaints about the new AS/A2 specifications have been reported elsewhere,1 but below I outline my main concerns regarding the new examination system, which I see as a missed opportunity to introduce a 16-19 History curriculum that meets the needs of young people in the twenty-first century. The Curriculum 2000...
AS & A2 History
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The Historian 155: Out now
The magazine of the Historical Association
Read The Historian 155: Women and power
Since the publication of our Jubilee edition in the summer, the nation has mourned the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Her death marks the end of an era that will, no doubt, be studied in the future as a self-contained unit, like the...
The Historian 155: Out now
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Couching counterfactuals in knowledge when explaining the Salem witch trials with Year 13
Teaching History journal article
Puzzled by the shrugs and unimaginative responses of his students when asked certain counterfactual questions, James Edward Carroll set out to explore what types of counterfactual questions would elicit sophisticated causal explanations. During his pursuit of the ‘gold standard’ of counterfactual reasoning, Carroll drew upon theories of academic history in...
Couching counterfactuals in knowledge when explaining the Salem witch trials with Year 13
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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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Local People and Places in the Early Years
Article
Learning in the Early Years through Local People and Places: developing historical concepts in the Early Years Foundation Stage
Using the local environment as a starting point for historical learning in EYFS not only helps young children engage and make learning meaningful and relevant, but also helps them develop a strong sense of identity. Working...
Local People and Places in the Early Years
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Starting a new Branch
Organising and running an HA branch
The Historical Association and its branches
Branches have been an essential part of the Historical Association since it began. They exist in all parts of the United Kingdom and take a variety of forms.
A branch provides a local forum to bring together all those with an interest in history:...
Starting a new Branch
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Your Secondary CPD calendar Spring 2026
News Item
"CPD from the Historical Association is always high quality and provides expert guidance and support."
At the HA we know how essential subject-specific CPD is for your development. That’s why, we offer a year-round programme of training that supports history teachers at all stages of their career, from trainees to...
Your Secondary CPD calendar Spring 2026
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Virtual Branch Recording: The Lines we Draw
Article
In this Virtual Branch Tim Franks, acclaimed BBC Journalist, talks about his personal history and identity drawing on his new biography The Lines we Draw: The Journalist, The Jew and an argument about identity.
We will delve into Tim's experiences as a journalist in some of the world's major conflict zones,...
Virtual Branch Recording: The Lines we Draw
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Slaying dragons and sorcerers in Year 12: in search of historical argument
Teaching History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
Reflecting on his GCSE and post-16 students' essays, Michael Fordham began to wonder if there were something missing in the way he taught students to write. Work on structure that was designed to strengthen argument...
Slaying dragons and sorcerers in Year 12: in search of historical argument
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World War II evacuation project - A living history experience
Primary History case study
Editorial note: The WOW factor. When we first received and read the World War II Evacuation Project case study we simply went WOW! It was genuinely mind-blowing. Below we publish the main sections of the report. They bring to life an invaluable, ground-breaking case-study of national significance.
The case-study involved...
World War II evacuation project - A living history experience
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'Britain was our home': Helping Years 9, 10, and 11 to understand the black experience of the Second World War
Teaching History article
In this article, Helena Stride shows how the Imperial War Museum responded to criticism that insufficient attention had been paid to the contribution of black and Asian people to Britain’s wars. She focuses on one of two resource-packs produced by the Museum, which highlights the experience of Britain’s colonial peoples,...
'Britain was our home': Helping Years 9, 10, and 11 to understand the black experience of the Second World War
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Eric Hobsbawm: Is History Dangerous?
Article
Professor Eric Hobsbawm’s address at the Annual Dinner of the Historical Association meeting in Cambridge, April 1999, on accepting the Medlicott Medal.
Our annual award the Medlicott Medal is awarded to individuals for outstanding services and current contributions to history.
Eric Hobsbawm: Is History Dangerous?
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Primary History 42: Getting Out
The primary education journal of the Historical Association
04 HA Centenary Day and Competition
05 Editorial
06 Primary Noticeboard
08 In My View: the debate upon the English National Curriculum for history at KS2 — Robert Guyver and Jon Nichol
11 The Taunton Market Project: an innovative collaboration — Sue Berry
14 Geography and history: exploring the local...
Primary History 42: Getting Out
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Teaching History 113: Creating Progress
The HA's journal for secondary history teachers
This edition deals with creating progress: History teachers are creating progress - the idea and the reality. Why rely on others to define and design it? The creation process is every teacher's property and there is no celing on what we might help pupils achieve. JFK, Progression models, Roleplay in...
Teaching History 113: Creating Progress
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Out and About with Garibaldi
Historian feature
One approach used by British local historians is to explore and examine patterns in the landscape, based on a belief that the patterns will instruct and develop our historical awareness and understanding. Although approaches to local history may be less developed abroad, we can still apply our techniques to the...
Out and About with Garibaldi
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Primary History 26
The primary education journal of the Historical Association
3 Primary Noticeboard – edited by Tim Lomas
7 Standards in primary history: onward and upward? A view from Ofsted – Scott Harrison (Read article)
10 Rhyd-y-Car cottages at St Fagans Museum of Welsh Life – Susanna Wood (Read article)
12 Asking the right questions. a study of the ability...
Primary History 26
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Politics, history and stories about the Cold War
Article
Interpretation of the Cold War is a fascinating area. Many students begin to study it certain pre-formed ideas – gleaned from their parents, perhaps, or from films or computer games. Historians have interpreted it in different ways – and those who believe in the ‘twenty-year rule’ that historical judgment is...
Politics, history and stories about the Cold War
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Cunning Plan 192: A suggested itinerary for visiting Berlin
Teaching History feature
The principles and approaches outlined in our article on Pages 59 to 64 of this edition can be applied to any site, although not necessarily all on the same trip! If you are visiting Berlin, and you want to examine it as a contested space, in what order might you...
Cunning Plan 192: A suggested itinerary for visiting Berlin
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On-demand webinar: 'Move Me On’ skills practice for mentors
Mentoring beginning and early career history teachers in the secondary school
Mentoring beginning and early career history teachers in the secondary school
Session 5: 'Move Me On’ skills practice
This final webinar of the series brings together the strands of mentoring through a ‘Move Me On’ style case-studies workshop, with participants tackling common mentoring quandaries together.
Release date: Tuesday 22 April 2025Expiry...
On-demand webinar: 'Move Me On’ skills practice for mentors
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Primary History 35
The primary education journal of the Historical Association
3 Editorial
4 Primary Noticeboard
6 In My View: The Primary National Strategy and primary history – Maureen Lewis
8 A Quick Guide to Museums and Galleries on the Internet – Jo Peat
11 Identity Crisis: History through Science, strange bedfellows or obvious partners? – Anthony Richards (Read article)
13...
Primary History 35
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Primary History 7
The primary education journal of the Historical Association
4 Editorial
5 News
6 Post-Dearing History-Missed Opportunities: Muddle and Fudge? A look at the new curriculum - Paul Noble
9 History in the Primary Curriculum: Interpreting the Vikings - Keith Crawford
12 Deconstruction or Reconstruction - Peter Vass
14 A Victorian Case Study: Simulating Aspects of Victorian Life in...
Primary History 7
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Education Objectives for the Study of History: A suggested framework
Classic Teaching History Pamphlets
Teachers of history in many parts of the country are now trying to formulate objectives for the study of their subject. This framework is put forward as a possible aid to them in a task which all admit to be a difficult one. Here, we try to spell out the...
Education Objectives for the Study of History: A suggested framework
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On-demand webinar: Curriculum coherence and transition to Key Stage 1
Teaching ‘past and present’ in EYFS
Teaching ‘past and present’ in EYFS
Session 3: Curriculum coherence and transition to Key Stage 1
This webinar will support you to ensure well-planned transition to Key Stage 1, and will give advice on planning for mixed-age Reception/Year 1 classes. It will reflect on developing a coherent history curriculum across all...
On-demand webinar: Curriculum coherence and transition to Key Stage 1
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Approaches to the History Curriculum: Project based learning
Briefing Pack
Rationale/Origins
Project based learning has been around for decades; it is not a new idea. When we think back to the curriculum of the 1970s and early 80s, integrated Humanities was once again all the rage. As the Nuffield review of 2008 highlights "between 1975 and 1983, HMI tried to...
Approaches to the History Curriculum: Project based learning
