Keystage History Blog – updates from Neil

Practical teaching ideas, curriculum updates and thoughtful discussion about history education. Browse Neil’s reflections, discover useful resources and find ideas to bring into your classroom. Choose a section below to explore the articles.
Classroom practice

History teaching tips

Practical ideas for enquiry, questioning, chronology and assessment, helping pupils think more deeply about the past.

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Curriculum and education

Developments in history education

Explore curriculum reviews, research and changes in history education, with commentary on what they mean for teachers.

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Site updates

New on Keystage history

Discover additions to the site, including teaching resources, planning ideas and new approaches to familiar history topics.

Explore site updates

The past in the present

History topics in the news

Historical discoveries, anniversaries and stories in the news that offer fresh questions and connections for the classroom.

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Neil’s perspective

Opinion and reflection

Thought-provoking views on history teaching, curriculum choices and the issues facing teachers and subject leaders.

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Useful websites and materials

Recommended online resources

Explore websites and online materials recommended to support history teaching, planning and professional learning.

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Books and reading

Recommended reading

Reading recommendations to deepen subject knowledge, stimulate discussion and develop your approach to teaching history.

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Policy and qualifications

Exam boards and education policy

Commentary on examination requirements, curriculum policy and announcements affecting history education.

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Earlier articles

From the archive

Browse earlier articles for ideas and historical context. References to past policies or frameworks may have been superseded.

Explore the archive

Kristallnacht
Holocaust teaching and need for training for history teachers

Archived article

Holocaust teaching at KS3: what we should be doing! In addition to advising that history teachers and colleagues in other disciplines ought to be incentivised to take up Holocaust Education…

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keystage history
Stop using ‘can-do’ statements to assess KS3 history

Archived article

It has always concerned me that context-free can-do statements have NO PLACE in HISTORY TEACHING. How can we possibly consider explanations for why the Great Fire started as being on…

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Are you teaching your KS1 the truth about Guy Fawkes?

Archived article

In many schools I hear teachers tell the same story about Guido Fawkes. Guy Fawkes was angry at the King and the government for the way it treated Catholics. He…

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keystage history
Launch of new website www.keystagehistory.co.uk

Archived article

Hi, Just a short note to say that a new website is being launched this week for teachers of history at KS3 and 4. I have authored hundreds of pages…

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Written by Neil Thompson

All content on Keystage history is written and quality assured by Neil Thompson, a former history teacher, county history adviser and Ofsted inspector with more than 30 years’ experience in history education.

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