HWS History

History is for life not just exams! For HWS students, staff, parents & alumni. All tweets are my own opinions. Chris Holmes: Head of History & Politics.

[HWS History @HWS_History]

After a week of double-posting I am moving over to BlueSky. Please follow me over there - especially members of the extended HWS family. I will be posting updates of our Y13 trip to Auschwitz next week.
https://t.co/Za84HZ3AIR

[HWS History @HWS_History]

@AuschwitzMuseum I realise it may sound odd l, but I am excited to be taking Y13 History to Auschwitz next week. It used to be an annual trip, but this is the first time we’ve been able to do this since COVID lockdowns. Several cohorts missed out on such a valuable experience.

[HWS History @HWS_History]

Very happy to be involved with UCL/Oxford Uninersity's research project on Teaching Empire. Converations about teaching History that go beyond the daily grind of exam specs and schemes of work really are the very best type of CPD. https://t.co/SjKgu4A1ke

[HWS History @HWS_History]

The anti-woke brigade are agitated over this display in Newark's civil war trail. Embarrasingly for them the displays features real people present at the town's sieges. This is John Americanus, a Black Royalist soldier. It's not political correctness gone mad. It's just History.

[HWS History @HWS_History]

Frazzled after 6th Form Open Evening. Exciting to meet prospective students & parents - but the best part is listening to current students selling 'their' 6th Form. Makes me think we're doing something right. And that pastoral support is as important as academic achievement

[HWS History @HWS_History]

I'm really not comfortable assosciating with Elon Musk's platform anymore so I'm migrating to Bluesky. I'll be double posting for a while. Come over and follow me at https://t.co/Za84HZ3AIR

[HWS History @HWS_History]

Anniversary of the 1640 release of 'Freeborn John' Lilburne from the Fleet prison. The two illustrations from his pamphlets, separated by years of civil war look like the first us of some sort of insta-filter !

[HWS History @HWS_History]

Truly terrifying prospect for US teachers. The proposal for compulsory prayer in schools turns the clock back to 1962. The other proposals … to 1930s Germany.
And plenty on the Right in this country would support his ideas.

[CALL TO ACTIVISM @CalltoActivism]

Donald Trump announces his 10-point plan to rebuild America's school system:

Among his promises is teach patriotism, bring back 'school prayer, and fire teachers who disagree.

This is how our freedom ends.

[HWS History @HWS_History]

Remembrance day: Time to rethink WW1 narratives. My ancestor, Albert; fought alongside Indian troops against Ottomans for control of oil fields in Mesopotamia (Iraq). A working class London boy, joined up at 17, dead before he was 19. Dulce et decorum est?
https://t.co/W87uSiYu00

[HWS History @HWS_History]

@ElizMackie Vast inconsistencies on that between different universities and subjects - so unfortunately we can't assume they'll be ignored. Next year UCAS plans to replace statements with a simple questionnaire.

[HWS History @HWS_History]

The middle of UCAS season; anxiety for students & their teachers. Of course we do all we can & it does all come good in the end. But the system is so overdue for reform; personal statements reward cultural capital and predicted grades & conditional offers are a version of Ebay.🤬

[HWS History @HWS_History]

Teaching my Y10s GCSE USA in the 20th Century I was stumped by a question: When was the last time there was such a significant US election? It's not really my area of specialism, but I could only think of 1860 when the country was literally on the brink of civil war.😥

[HWS History @HWS_History]

A book by a philosopher that historians - and everybody else - should read. Argues that identities of gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality & class are historically located and not immutable. Very valuable insights for our times.

[HWS History @HWS_History]

Anniversary at this time of the year of the 1647 Putney Debates. One of the most exciting - and signifcant - moments of the English Revolution, and arguably of British political history in general. The late Justin Champion explains why.
https://t.co/bXdlpaT2Vc via @YouTube

[HWS History @HWS_History]

Another CPD trip with the HWS History crew - joined by a token Geographer. Silk Roads at the British Museum.

[HWS History @HWS_History]

Completely anachronistic and romantic nonsense I know, but I can't help thinking that Rainsborough was to the English Revolution what Danton was to the French, Trotsky to the Russian and Che to the Cuban.

[The Cromwell Museum @MuseumCromwell]

#OnThisDay 30 October 1648 Colonel Thomas Rainsborough was killed at #Doncaster by 4 cavaliers from Pontefract attempting to take him prisoner. Rainsborough was highest ranking #Leveller, a huge loss to that movement. Image from our collection. #17thCentury #OTD #EnglishCivilWar

[HWS History @HWS_History]

As a teacher of the English Revolution, there’s something about this picture that really tickles me 🤣

[HWS History @HWS_History]

One aspect of History I particularly love is its ability to constantly surprise you. Britain’s first black voter was in 1749, 25 years earlier than thought, and ran a pub https://t.co/1IQuLA0r0V

[HWS History @HWS_History]

Rainy Sunday afternoon watching One Life; story of Nicholas Winton & the Czech kindertransport. Powerful story so relevant today when attitudes to refugees again in news. How unspectacularly doing the right thing produced spectacular results.
https://t.co/zCFXLDSWaK via @YouTube

[HWS History @HWS_History]

Disappointing: Given links between slavery & royalty; Elizabeth 1st’s partnership with John Hawkins; Charles II’s creation of the Royal Africa Company & biggest slave trader of the lot James Duke of York. Apologising the start of correcting the narrative. https://t.co/tJIFz2zBCl