Historic Royal Palaces announces winners of Inspiring History Teaching Awards

London, UK - Wednesday 25th March 2026 – Historic Royal Palaces today announces the ten winners of its inaugural Inspiring History Teaching Awards, celebrating teachers who bring the past to life in classrooms across the UK. The overall winner will be revealed at a prestigious ceremony at the Tower of London on Saturday 20 June 2026.

Selected from thousands of nominations submitted by pupils, parents and colleagues, the winners are from schools in Belfast, Bolton, Edinburgh, Gloucester, Hertfordshire, London, Newcastle, Reading, Worcester and Barry. Full list of winners below.

Together they showcase the transformative impact teachers of history have both in classrooms and wider communities. Delivered with support from the Historical Association and partners across the UK, the Inspiring History Teaching Awards are about achievement beyond exam results. Judges have been looking for innovation, ingenuity and a dedication to bringing lesser-known histories to light.

From immersive witch-trial simulations to Minecraft reconstructions of Celtic settlements to multi-language walking tours and student-created exhibitions showcased in public museums, this cohort of educators demonstrate how great teachers are igniting a love and appreciation for the past.

The overall winner will be determined by a judging panel led by much-loved historian and broadcaster Lucy Worsley, who launched the awards in October, and includes some of the UK’s most respected historians, educators and writers: Greg Jenner, Sathnam Sanghera, Dan Jones, Shalina Patel, Katie Hunter and Michael Riley.

Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) will recognise each winner by awarding a £500 cash prize plus £500 for their school along with annual memberships to HRP and Historical Association. The ten winners will also gain access to an Education Support mental health and wellbeing workshop for teachers, along with the opportunity to become an HRP Teacher Champion. The overall winner will receive an additional £500 for themselves and £500 for their school, plus a lifetime HRP membership. Read the full details at hrp.org.uk/teachingawards

John Barnes, Chief Executive of Historic Royal Palaces, said: “History comes alive through great teaching, and Historic Royal Palaces is thrilled to celebrate the passion and creativity shown by the winners of the inaugural Inspiring History Teaching Awards. Congratulations to all 10, you’re inspiring young people across the UK to discover why history matters.

 “As an independent charity, Historic Royal Palaces is committed to sharing the stories of our six remarkable site as widely as possible. Over the next decade, we aim to reach every school in the UK, helping more young people understand the past and shape the future. A mission we share with these brilliant teachers.”

Professor James Daybell, incoming President of the Historical Association, said: “Championing and supporting brilliant history teaching in schools has always been very much part of the DNA of the Historical Association.  It is wonderful to see such enthusiastic and imaginative teaching practice demonstrated by history teachers within our schools. What impresses most about this year’s winners are the range of creative approaches taken to the teaching of the past, the embracing of new digital technologies, the advancing of pedagogical innovation and the developing of real-world skills. These inspiring individuals are not only able to ignite the imaginations of young people, but also to convey the vital importance of history to our understanding of the world in which we live today.”

Full list of the Inspiring History Teaching Awards winners:

North East England Winner: Alasdair Bright, Teacher & History Curriculum Lead

St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School, Newcastle

Alasdair has been recognised by the judges for creating an inclusive history curriculum rooted in local heritage. Through his pupil leadership group, the ‘Heritage Heroes’, children research Newcastle’s past and – with the help of local families – have created walking tours in more than 20 languages, shared across the local community via QR codes in GP surgeries, libraries and shop windows. Through sharing their discoveries with the community, Alasdair is dedicated to helping primary children see themselves as young historians with real impact.

Scotland Winner: Fionnuala Glover, Teacher of History & Modern Studies

Holy Rood RC High School, Edinburgh

Judges praised Fionnuala for bringing a wave of digital innovation and diverse historical perspectives into her school, ensuring history is engaging and accessible for all students. She’s led on creating fully digital lesson resources that support translation and collaborative learning. Known for her creative teaching, she encourages students to explore the past through projects ranging from Minecraft reconstructions of Celtic settlements to creating AI-generated history podcasts. A former pupil shared how Fionnuala’s passion and interactive lessons “inspired [her] to always know the value of history even outside of high school.”

Northern Ireland Winner: Elaine McPeake, History Teacher

St Dominic’s Grammar School, Belfast

Elaine's infectious passion for history and creative approach stood out to the judges. She creates immersive classroom experiences for her classes, from recreating Anne Frank’s bedroom and First World War trenches to Renaissance ‘Dragon’s Den’ challenges, where students pitch new inventions to wealthy patrons. Last year, she worked with pupils to create their own Museum of Childhood – students researched toys from the past and interviewed staff about their favourite childhood memories. The exhibition was later displayed at the Ulster Museum, sharing students’ historical discoveries with the wider public.

South East England Winner: Sarah-Jane Bee, History Teacher

Little Heath School, Reading, Berkshire

Sarah-Jane Bee impressed the judges with her creative, thoughtful and rigorous curriculum design. On a mission to make her history lessons engaging, she uses role play and decision-making games to bring historical ‘worlds’ to life – from the feudal system and Tudor court to the Paris Peace negotiations. She also challenged pupils to investigate the little-known history of Henry VIII’s visits to Reading, using evidence from national and local archives to construct their own claims about this overlooked chapter of local history. Beyond her own classroom, Sarah-Jane works with local primary schools to spark curiosity about the past, including leading a mock archaeological dig.

London Winner: Jasmine Kaur, Humanities Teacher

Centre Academy London, Battersea, London 

In a SEND setting where every learner’s needs are different, judges recognised Jasmine’s commitment to inclusive history teaching. She adapts lessons so every student can access historical stories while engaging at a level that works for them, using role play, games and local history enquiries to explore diverse perspectives. During Black History Month, students led an oral history project, interviewing family members and sharing their stories in a whole-school assembly – sparking a wider programme of student-led presentations celebrating significant people and events.

East England Winner: Elizabeth Carr, Assistant Principal – Curriculum & Subject Lead, Humanities

Avanti Grange Secondary School, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire

Elizabeth was selected by judges for her strong academic rigour, delivered through creative and engaging teaching. She brings the past to life through vivid storytelling and sensory detail, using music, images and objects such as spices to immerse pupils in the early British Empire. She also creates powerful experiences, including a trip to First World War battlefields, where students explore the human impact of war. Her curriculum broadens perspectives, introducing topics such as the Mali and Mongol empires and amplifying often overlooked voices. Elizabeth ensures history is immersive and inclusive – her colleagues noting that “she does not ‘perform’ history, she builds historians.”

North West England Winner: Alice Solomons, Director of History

Sharples School, Bolton

Through her dedication to storytelling, debate and immersive activities – such as virtual reality experiences of First World War trenches – the judges praised Alice’s approach which has raised the engagement of history within Sharples School. Under her leadership, the subject has become one of the school’s most popular GCSE subjects with uptake rising 622% since 2019. Alongside her commitment to lesser-known, diverse histories, Alice has also received glowing feedback from trainees, saying they “could not have asked for a better teacher to learn from”.

South West Winner: Dave Slaughter, Head of History

St Peter’s R.C. High School, Gloucester, Gloucestershire

Dave was recognised by the judges for his ‘transformative’ impact on students and his commitment to making history inclusive. Working closely with local archives, heritage sites and community partners, he encourages students to challenge the idea that “nothing ever happens in Gloucestershire” by uncovering powerful stories from their own doorstep. Dave is also a champion of history education in the wider region: he’s helped students attend talks at the Gloucester History Festival, organised the first Gloucester History Schools Festival with the University of Gloucester, and founded the Gloucestershire Hustings for the Historical Association’s Great Debate.

Central England Winner: Joanna Smith, Head of History

Studley High School, Worcester, Warwickshire

Joanna was praised by the judges for putting students at the heart of their learning through creative approaches. She has turned history about witch-hunting in 1600s Massachusetts into an interactive six-week experience, where students received letters about life in the period and took on figures within a small community to root out the witch among them. Through this, they explored the challenges faced by settlers and the social, economic and religious tensions of the time. Joanna also runs workshops where pupils and their families explore their own histories together, helping students feel immersed in history and confident in shaping their own understanding of it.

Wales Winner: Shellie Brown, Teacher

Cadoxton Primary School, Barry

Sherrie’s entry stood out for the joy, curiosity and community embedded in her history lessons. By turning pupils into active historians, they explored the question: What is the story of Cadoxton Primary School—its past, present and future? Pupils created a public survey with over 100 responses from former pupils, welcomed local historians, and worked with builders to connect the school’s past and future. This sparked curiosity, particularly around the mystery of the missing school bell, with many continuing their research at home. Funds raised at the school’s Christmas market will now install a modern bell, ensuring this story continues across the community.

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The Inspiring History Teaching Awards are an extension of Historic Royal Palaces’ own work to bring history to life for every child in the UK. As an independent charity, HRP receives no Government or Crown funding and relies on visitors, members, donors and partners to care for its six remarkable palaces: Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Banqueting House, Kew Palace, and Hillsborough Castle and Gardens. Over the next 10 years, it is committed to reaching every school in the UK through on-site visits, school programmes, new digital experiences and teacher support.

To ensure the awards have a truly national reach, HRP is collaborating with organisations across all four devolved nations. UK-wide partners include the Historical Association – who is the Associate Partner for the awards – and the Association of Independent Museums. In Wales, HRP is working with Cadw; in Scotland, with Royal Collection Trust and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Scottish Maritime Museum, and the Scottish Association for the Teaching of History; and in Northern Ireland, with National Museums NI and the History Teachers’ Association of Northern Ireland.