This series of webinars will consider how disciplinary thinking has perhaps become something of an afterthought in curriculum planning, for a range of valid reasons, and start to explore ways to build it back in. It will encourage colleagues to hold up a mirror to how they approach what is variously called 'second-order concepts', 'disciplinary thinking' or 'historical skills' and suggest some approaches that embrace the complexity of the past without leaving students confused.

The series will focus on Key Stage 3, but with application to Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5. It is open to anyone involved in secondary history teaching or ITE including trainees, teachers and subject leaders of secondary history.

Learning outcomes

This webinar series will enable you to:

• Reflect on where your teaching of disciplinary thinking could be due a refresh.
• Build your confidence with curriculum planning of historical thinking or 'second-order concepts'.
• Take away concrete, practical approaches that can be experimented with in classrooms.

About the presenters

Hugh Richards is Head of History at a comprehensive secondary in York. Rich Kennett is Assistant Headteacher and trust lead for Teaching and Learning.

How to book

If you wish to book an individual webinar before it has taken place, you can book online using the links below.

For all webinars we recommend watching live in order to interact with the presenter, but if you are unable to participate live then a recording link will be made available to all registered delegates within 2 working days. If you have missed a session, a recording can be accessed later by making a block booking using the form below.

We offer discounted rates for bulk bookings of 3 or more paid sessions so if you wish to book several webinars in the series then we recommend using the bulk booking form below to access a discounted rate. 

Session 1: Embracing messiness: the case for returning to disciplinary thinking in history classrooms (Recording: FREE for HA members)
Thursday 26 September, 4pm–5pm 

In recent years, disciplinary thinking has been somewhat overlooked as the 'what' of curriculum has taken the front seat for many schools. This introductory session will explain the rationale for these webinars and consider some principles for re-thinking our approach with disciplinary thinking.

Session 2: Keeping sources messy
Thursday 10 October, 4pm–5pm

This session looks into how source work has often been too tidy in the classroom setting and the reasons behind this. It will explore a different approach to working with sources and evidence and give practical approaches to exemplify what this could look like in classrooms.

Session 3: Interpretations: complexity without confusions
Thursday 24 October, 4pm–5pm

This session delves into interpretations. It analyses how we can be both too simplistic and too complex with our approach. It will explore a different approach to interpretations and give practical approaches to exemplify what this could look like in classrooms.

Session 4: Helping the past take shape with historical enquiry
Thursday 14 November, 4pm–5pm

This session focuses into enquiry and on second order concepts. It offers practical advice to how second order concepts can be introduced in a way that is historically rigorous. We will explicitly address the thorny issue of progress maps and how this can be avoided whilst still making sure that the curriculum gets more complex year on year.

Session 5: Historical writing
Thursday 28 November, 4pm–5pm

This final session focuses on how we can support our students to write like historians. We will explain why PEE models and other simplistic frameworks actually limit our students and instead we should look to the work of historians as an alternative.

Book multiple webinars

If you wish to make a discounted block booking of multiple webinars, please complete the form below to make a booking and request an invoice. 

To access the member price please provide your membership number when prompted.

Number of webinars booked	HA Member ticket	Non-member ticket
1 webinar	£38	£67
5 webinars	£140	£307

Book a recording

If you have missed a session, a recording can be accessed using the form above. You will be emailed an invoice for the cost of the recording(s) and a time-limited link to access the webinar recording on Zoom. 

All webinars in this series are also eligible for the corporate member free recording offer. This can be booked using the form above.

Please see the terms and conditions for further information.

Terms and conditions

All prices are listed inclusive of VAT. Any webinar booked individually on Cademy will incur an additional fee if payment is made by card rather than invoice.

All Historical Association webinars are subject to the HA CPD terms and conditions. For enquiries please contact events@history.org.uk.