History
Special notice: In response to a number of misleading reports we are
absolutely clear that teaching of the Holocaust is compulsory in schools at Key
Stage 3.
History is a foundation subject of the National Curriculum and is statutory at Key Stages 1 to 3 (up to age 14). Post-14, history is optional, although pupils at Key Stage 4/GCSE have an entitlement to at least one course in the humanities (either geography or history). The Key Stage 3 National Curriculum programme of study for history requires pupils to be taught a substantial amount of British history, for example the major events, changes and developments in British history covering at least the medieval, early modern, industrial and twentieth-century periods. History is not compulsory post-14 to allow greater flexibility within the curriculum. However it remains popular at Key Stage 4 and beyond. At GCSE at least 25 per cent of the syllabus must cover a coherent element of British history and/or the history of England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales.
Teachers at all key stages will find guidance and resources for teaching history in this section. Further resources and website links can be found in useful links.
Lesson plans
Visit TeacherNet's lesson plans for free, online history resources for both
primary and secondary schools.
ICT in History teaching
For practical help and ideas on using and integrating ICT in your teaching:
- QCA has developed support materials for the Teacher Assessment Activities series in history and ICT. These materials are fully integrated with the National Curriculum, and provide examples of assessment activities to help identify, track and enhance pupil progress. Each book includes activities and teacher guidance.
- Becta has schemes of work for Key Stages 1 and 2, and Key Stage 3 indicating the opportunities for ICT.
- The National Curriculum in Action website shows how you can use ICT in History at Key Stages 1 to 3.
- The Burnt Cakes website combines ICT with history for Key Stages 3 to 5, providing a good range of free downloadable resources.
Assembly ideas
TeacherNet's Assemblies section contains a wealth of resources for
preparing assemblies for use with your class, year group or school. It also
provides a template and hints for organising your own material.
Castles, parchments and portraits — history field
trips
Stone walls, primary documents and artefacts are the tangible stuff of history,
and going to see and touch them is a goal and a reward for pupils.
TeacherNet's Museums and galleries site and the 24-Hour
Museum give details of UK museums, galleries and heritage sites for
information on planning visits.
Virtual History field trips
The internet offers the opportunity to view many areas of the UK and the world
without having to leave the classroom. Use the following sites to discover how
to give your pupils access to the buildings, images and objects they have met
in secondary sources.
- The British Museum offers an excellent selection of virtual tours from all over the world.
- The British Library's Collect Britain lets you travel through time and place, helping to build a picture of the UK's regional history.
- Use the 24-Hour Museum's Exhibitions online area for museum shows as well as the bigger national galleries. (Visitors should be aware that the content sometimes follows adult themes and may not be suitable for children.)
- The National Curriculum outlines a programme of study and Key Stage information for history, which is complemented by information in QCA/DCSF's schemes of work for history in Key Stages 1 and 2 and Key Stage 3.
Heritage Open Days
Heritage Open
Days celebrates England's architecture and culture by offering
free access on four days in September to properties that are usually closed to
the public, or which normally charge for admission. You can order or download
the latest Heritage Open Days teaching pack designed for use
across the curriculum. It contains ideas for on-site and classroom
activities, tips for arranging visits to historic and contemporary properties,
contacts and website addresses of buildings and monuments, plus a range of case
studies and projects that use the built environment to inspire learning.
Continuing professional development (CPD) in history
TeacherNet's CPD page advises on how to make progress in your
teaching career. It includes any activity that increases teachers'
knowledge or understanding, and improves their effectiveness in
schools.
Teachers' recommendations
Forums and chat rooms are a great way to share ideas with fellow
history teachers and pick up tips, as well as find lists of favourite or
popular websites. These sites offer the chance to chat about
curriculum issues, pick up useful site suggestions and ask for advice:
-
Staffordshire Learning Net hosts discussion strands on both primary and secondary history
Teacher training
History Initial Teacher Training is a site that
has been created to support anyone involved in the training of history
teachers.
Overseas teachers
TeacherNet's Teaching in England site has a dedicated history page
to accustom teachers from other countries to the curriculum and teaching
methods when preparing for a move to England.
Don't forget you can also search for resources by subject in TeacherNet's useful sites directory.
Last updated: 10 June 2009
