School is out and the endless days of the summer holidays lie ahead! If you and your children are looking for something to do, we are hosting four free morning online sessions for you to join with an opportunity to listen to a children’s author. To sign up visit: www.history.org.uk/primary/news...
I'm thrilled to share that my article for Teaching Times on controversial histories, has been published today, and it's the front page feature! I hope it stirs up the conversation about preparing for and teaching controversial histories in the classroom. www.teachingtimes.com/capturing-th...
Capturing The Flag – How To Teach Controversial Topics In The History Classroom - TeachingTimes
Using the flying of flags across the UK as a lens, Philip Arkinstall outlines four lesson plans for teaching controversial and still-relevant history topics.
teachingtimes.com
Capturing the Flag – Teaching Controversial Histories This blog post has been written by Philip Arkinstall, Senior Lecturer at the University of Gloucestershire, former Head of History and Politics. The Battle of Jersey: The Death of Major Peirson, 6 January 1781 by John Singleton Copley The…
Capturing the Flag – Teaching Controversial Histories
This blog post has been written by Philip Arkinstall, Senior Lecturer at the University of Gloucestershire, former Head of History and Politics. The Battle of Jersey: The Death of Major Peirson, 6 January 1781 by John Singleton Copley The concept of creating a sequence of lessons about the display of St George Cross flags across the rural town I live and taught in, came from a desire to bring the debate into the classroom.
onebighistorydepartment.com
A Thousand Years in One Village: Why Dore Belongs in Every History Classroom This article was written by Dr Dani Hilliard, member of the Dore Archive Research Team and founder of Argue to Think, a company designed to aid the development of academic writing and business planning. For History…
A Thousand Years in One Village: Why Dore Belongs in Every History Classroom
This article was written by Dr Dani Hilliard, member of the Dore Archive Research Team and founder of Argue to Think, a company designed to aid the development of academic writing and business planning. For History Teachers everywhere introducing the Dore Archive Research Team (DART) Contact us through our blog found at Who are we? The Dore Archive Research Team (DART) is a small but dedicated group of volunteers whose purpose within the village community is multifaceted.
onebighistorydepartment.com
@arkiphi.bsky.social led a fascinating session this afternoon on tackling the controversial events of today through the lens of history. #haconf26
Finally ready for the @histassoc.bsky.social Conference this coming Friday and Saturday. My talk entitled Capturing the Flag is about the way we tackle modern issues like flags on the high street in the history classroom. It includes free sources and ideas of how to tackle other controversial topics
Come and join us! HA Conference includes sessions on conceptual understanding, local history, inclusive approaches and disciplinary thinking across EYFS, KS1 and KS2. Explore the programme www.haconference.com/full-programme
Two weeks today until the legendary @histassoc.bsky.social Conference is held in Newcastle. My session is called Capturing the Flag: tackling controversial events of today through the lens of history. There are also soooo many great things to see alongside me... but do come and say hi.
Looking After Your Wellbeing as a History Teacher This blog post by Gemma Hargraves, Deputy Headteacher with responsibilities for wellbeing, at The Crypt School, Gloucestershire suggests ways of addressing wellbeing, but from the slant of a history teacher. Bear baiting anyone? Teaching history…
Looking After Your Wellbeing as a History Teacher
This blog post by Gemma Hargraves, Deputy Headteacher with responsibilities for wellbeing, at The Crypt School, Gloucestershire suggests ways of addressing wellbeing, but from the slant of a history teacher. Bear baiting anyone? Teaching history can be joyful, controversial and exhausting in equal measure. From colonisation and slavery to Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, the content we teach can be complex and upsetting.
onebighistorydepartment.com
Looking ahead to the Historical Association Conference This blog has been written by Otis Blaize, History & Politics Teacher at Trinity School, Croydon. Otis is presenting at the Conference, which takes place in Newcastle Gateshead on 15-16 May, on the topic of Contesting the crown: empire,…
Looking ahead to the Historical Association Conference
This blog has been written by Otis Blaize, History & Politics Teacher at Trinity School, Croydon. Otis is presenting at the Conference, which takes place in Newcastle Gateshead on 15-16 May, on the topic of Contesting the crown: empire, independence and identity in the Caribbean. Each year, the Historical Association Conference offers a combination of inspiration, challenge and practical takeaways for the classroom.
onebighistorydepartment.com
Good morning. The elections for Historical Association Trustee positions are open. There are some incredible people standing. If you are a member and would like to vote I would love your support. Voting closes on the 12th May. Thank you www.surveymonkey.com/r/QMDYYWY?ut...
Elections to Governing Council - Representatives of Secondary Committee 2026
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Making a case to attend the Historical Association Conference This blog has been written by Elizabeth Carr, Assistant Principal – Curriculum and Subject Lead – Humanities at Avanti Grange Secondary School, Hertfordshire. Elizabeth is presenting at the Conference, which takes place in Newcastle…
Making a case to attend the Historical Association Conference
This blog has been written by Elizabeth Carr, Assistant Principal – Curriculum and Subject Lead – Humanities at Avanti Grange Secondary School, Hertfordshire. Elizabeth is presenting at the Conference, which takes place in Newcastle Gateshead on 15-16 May, on the topic of The beats and the buzzing: harnessing the power of reading aloud in an inclusive history classroom. The annual…
onebighistorydepartment.com
Day 4 final day visiting Langemark German cemetery and Talbot House - Every man's club with Hardenhuish School. It has been the utmost pleasure of leading this tour. It was great fun and I've been able to add new stories to my tour patter. #TCBC
Day 3 with Hardenhuish School visiting Messines Ridge, Hooge Crater, Tyne Cot, two cemeteries for students, Passchendaele Museum and the Menin Gate. #TCBC I also ran into Andrew Thornton. It's an immense privilege to be out here passing on the stories and finding relatives of the First World War.
Day 2 with Hardenhuish School students and @TCBC Tours for a full day on the Somme. Fantastic mini service at Thiepval and an excellent spread of experiences knitting the narrative of the Somme front and finishing at Vimy Ridge... on to Belgium.
Day 1 of @Hardenhuishschool's FWW battlefield tour. I have the privilege of taking them out as their former Head of History and now tour guide for @TCBCschooltours. Total engagement from Year 9 at the Arras Memorial and Wellington Quarry
Philip Arkinstall talking about curriculum development to bring in forgotten voices @ttradioofficial.bsky.social event in Manchester with 20 plus History and RE teachers spending Saturday sharing their expertise
Leonie Waring @ttradioofficial.bsky.social sharing her ambition for her young people and using a narrative approach to GCSE history. Pupils remembering more were willing to respond more in assessment tasks.
One Day in a World War – Bringing Global Perspectives into the History Classroom This blog post has been written by Sarah Nathaniel, Public Engagement Coordinator (South East) and Education Officer for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and relates to a taught session resource enabling…
One Day in a World War – Bringing Global Perspectives into the History Classroom
This blog post has been written by Sarah Nathaniel, Public Engagement Coordinator (South East) and Education Officer for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and relates to a taught session resource enabling teachers to make the First World War a truly global war for pupils. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemorate more than 1.7 million service men and women of Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten.
onebighistorydepartment.com
Here's a new blogpost for One Big History Department (OBHD) @histassoc.bsky.social about a new project with AQA and Royal Holloway University about Inclusive Histories. Enjoy. onebighistorydepartment.com/2026/02/20/p...
Power and the People – An Inclusive Histories Project
This blog post was written by Jess Brown on behalf of a project between AQA and Royal Holloway, University of London. It is related to resources linked to marginalised voices that could be useful f…
onebighistorydepartment.com
In this week's OBHD Blog from @histassoc.bsky.social we have Meggie Hayes from The Crypt School writing about Queer History onebighistorydepartment.com/2026/02/06/t... #historyteacher
The queer question. Navigating the waters of historical queerness
This post has been written by Meggie Hayes, History and Politics Teacher and Inclusion Lead at The Crypt School, Gloucestershire People are queer and people have always been queer. So it stands to …
onebighistorydepartment.com
The queer question. Navigating the waters of historical queerness This post has been written by Meggie Hayes, History and Politics Teacher and Inclusion Lead at The Crypt School, Gloucestershire People are queer and people have always been queer. So it stands to reason that remarkable people have…
The queer question. Navigating the waters of historical queerness
This post has been written by Meggie Hayes, History and Politics Teacher and Inclusion Lead at The Crypt School, Gloucestershire People are queer and people have always been queer. So it stands to reason that remarkable people have been queer, leaders of the world have been queer, and 'evil' people have been queer. This leaves history teachers with many queer questions when teaching the past.
onebighistorydepartment.com
From Remembrance to Responsibility: Delivering Meaningful Holocaust Memorial Day Assemblies This blog has been written by Philip Arkinstall, member of the Secondary Committee of the Historical Association, former Head of History and now Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of…
From Remembrance to Responsibility: Delivering Meaningful Holocaust Memorial Day Assemblies
This blog has been written by Philip Arkinstall, member of the Secondary Committee of the Historical Association, former Head of History and now Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of Gloucestershire The week of the 27th January was always a time I felt leading an assembly had a fantastic cross-school impact. Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) when introduced in 2001 allowed schools a point in the calendar to consider the impact of The Holocaust and genocide, as well as act as a mirror to societal behaviours.
onebighistorydepartment.com
Merry Christmas one and all. This blog post is a reflection on the impact of the Curriculum Review for history. We hope it gives you some helpful suggestions/thoughts @histassoc.bsky.social onebighistorydepartment.com/2025/12/23/c... #historyteacher
Curriculum Review for History
This blogpost has been created by Alex Fairlamb Alex is Director of Alex Fairlamb Consultancy LTD and she is an Honorary Fellow of the Historical Association. Alex is also co-editor of ‘What is Hi…
onebighistorydepartment.com
Today we have a post by History Teacher Andy Stone who reflects upon his take on the Experienced Teacher Programme with @histassoc.bsky.social onebighistorydepartment.com/2025/12/04/e... Think scholarly ways to keep invested in new pedagogies. Enjoy
Experienced Teacher Programme
Andy Stone reflects upon his involvement with the Experienced Teacher Programme. He draws upon recent scholarship to address the development of environmental issues and decolonising the curriculum …
onebighistorydepartment.com
End of term for lots of teachers. Time for some much needed r and r. This blog post is written by myself and looks at the construction of the remembrance assembly ahead of remembrance day onebighistorydepartment.com/2025/10/24/a... #historyteacher
A Lasting Remembrance
Post by Philip Arkinstall, Secondary Partnership Lead at the University of Gloucestershire, former Curriculum Leader for History November was always one of the most impactful times of the school ye…
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