National Policies

As a history leader, it is important to have an up to date knowledge of national policies affecting history in schools as well as a good knowledge of the history and evolution of national policies. In this section you will find articles and resources related to National policies affecting history education.

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  • Ofqual: Quality assurance for GCSE, AS and A level

    27th April 2021

    With exams cancelled, summer 2021 grades will be determined by schools and colleges. Every year, there is teacher assessment in subjects with non-exam assessment and schools and colleges will be familiar with moderation arrangements. This summer, with exams cancelled, the context is very different, so the quality assurance (QA) process...

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  • Tracking the health of history in England’s secondary schools

    Article

    In 2009 the Historical Association conducted the first of what has become an annual survey of history teachers in England. Its aim was to get beyond bare statistics relating to subject uptake and examination success to examine the reality of history teaching across all kinds of schools and to map...

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  • HA response to the DFE consultation on CPD

    Article

    In September, the government launched a call for evidence concerning teachers professional development. The Historical Association has responded to the call for evidence on behalf of our members. You can read our response below.

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  • Thematic GCSE Content

    Article

    The helpful guide below sets out links to a range of podcasts, articles and pamphlets that will provide subject knowledge guidance that you may find useful for all of the identified thematic topics of the  GCSE specifications. In addition there are also links to helpful articles dealing with bigger picture...

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  • Progression & Assessment without Levels - Guide

    Multipage Article

    In the 2014 national curriculum for primary and secondary history one of the key differences is that, for the first time since 1991, there are no level descriptions against which you can assess pupils' progress.  The new attainment target says simply that: ‘By the end of each key stage, pupils...

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  • Progression without Levels

    Article

    "As part of our reforms to the national curriculum , the current system of ‘levels' used to report children's attainment and progress will be removed.  It will not be replaced." (DfE 2013) When National Curriculum levels were removed in 2014, it was all too easy to fall into the trap of...

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  • Teaching History 153 Supplement: Curriculum Evolution

    Article

    A special supplement to Teaching History to support the 2014 National Curriculum. 1) Thinking about how the HA can support your department  2) Jamie Byrom: Alive ... and kicking? Personal reflections on the revised National Curriculum and what we might do with it 3) Michael Fordham: O Brave New World,...

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  • Knowledge and the Draft NC

    Article

    Silk purse from a sow's ear? Why knowledge matters and why the draft History NC will not improve it Katie Hall and Christine Counsell attempt to construct a Key Stage 3 scheme of work out of the draft National Curriculum for history that was released for consultation in England in...

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  • Pedagogy, politics and the profession

    Article

    History curriculum reform proposals and debates are a persistent feature of the contemporary educational landscape in England and, very probably, a ‘sign of the times' that can reveal a great deal about contemporary predicaments and concerns. History curriculum controversy is also a global phenomenon and one that can fruitfully -and,...

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  • TEACH Statement

    4th March 2008

    The TEACH report outlines the sort of good practice in teaching sensitive topics which is available for teachers to share, not least through the Historical Association's programme of subject-specific training. The Historical Association is disturbed to learn that false and misleading claims about the teaching of the Holocaust are being...

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  • Bruce! You're history.' The place of history in the Scottish curriculum

    Article

    History teachers in Scotland are feeling vulnerable. A curriculum review is leading to debates about history’s place in schools – will it or should it be a statutory part of Scotland’s curriculum for 11-14 year olds? Many of the concerns in Sam Henry’s article will ring true for teachers throughout...

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