“The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.”
- Theodore Roosevelt
History as a dynamic and evolving subject helps learners make sense of people, places, and events through exploring how the past has shaped societies, cultures, and ideas, and how interpretations of history influence the world we live in today. It provides the foundation for understanding change, continuity, and causation, unlocking learners’ ability to think critically, evaluate evidence, and construct informed arguments about the human story.
Through subject-specific training sessions, trainees will develop secure knowledge of key historical concepts such as chronology, significance, evidence, and interpretation, while refining the pedagogical skills essential to high-quality history teaching. You will also explore how to inspire curiosity about the past and foster pupils’ ability to question, debate, and reflect on historical issues, helping them to see history as an active, investigative discipline that deepens understanding of the present.
You will train within a dedicated History cohort throughout the year. This focused approach ensures that you develop the knowledge and skills necessary to teach across the full history curriculum.
All secondary History trainees receive specialist subject training within their placement schools, supported by a dedicated and highly experienced subject mentor. Explicit links are made across teaching phases from KS2 to KS5, ensuring the content goes beyond the KS3 and KS4 National Curriculum to promote a deep understanding of historical enquiry, disciplinary thinking, and learner progression across all key stages.
My name is Dominic Carlin, and I have the pleasure of being your History Subject Lead. I’ve spent my entire career teaching in Doncaster and have served as both Head of Department and Head of Faculty for over a decade. I’m passionate about the discipline of History and about sharing that passion with pupils. I have a particular interest in teaching local history to help pupils develop a strong sense of identity and belonging. Supporting new teachers as they take their first steps into the profession is something I consider both a privilege and a responsibility and I’m really looking forward to guiding and working alongside you as you embark on what will be a challenging, fulfilling, and deeply enriching year.
Together, we’ll explore the breadth and depth of the secondary History curriculum to uncover the stories of the past, the significance of evidence, and the power of diverse historical narratives. Our subject-focused sessions will help you develop both the knowledge and the pedagogical skills needed to inspire students and cultivate their curiosity about the past. We’ll work closely throughout the year as you grow in confidence, refine your subject knowledge, and develop into reflective, knowledgeable, and passionate History teachers. You’ll learn how to bring history to life in the classroom through careful use of primary sources, engagement with secondary interpretations, and a focus on delivering inclusive and thought-provoking lessons that reflect the richness of the past.