Yorkclio is the name of York and area network of history teachers and other history educators. We exist to develop and share the best possible practice of history teaching in schools. History subject specific ITE and CPD is our focus. We hold collaborative and fun CPD meetings at least once a term. We have events specifically for subject leaders and for early career teachers. ‘York Young HA‘ is our group for York and area’s most able and interested young history students. You can find more about us on this site. It enables us to keep in touch between meetings and is a place to share ideas and resources. And our name? York: the city + Clio: the muse of history = Yorkclio!
If you want to get in touch please mail Ruth Lingard: ruth.lingard@york.ac.uk.
For regular updates from the York network follow @YorkClio and @Snelsonh
Meanwhile, what some of the members say about YorkClio…
Fay Ashcroft-Hawley, Head of History at Vale of York Academy “As the head of a small History department, YorkClio has helped me to feel part of a wider network of History teachers and discuss the latest issues affecting the subject. The regular CPD has been invaluable and has had a great impact on improving lesson planning, assessment and curriculum design within my school. YorkClio has also provided an opportunity for me to meet and discuss developments in history with academics and leading experts in history education. Being part of YorkClio has undoubtedly had an impact on the progress and opportunities available to students from my school.”
Vicky Bettney, early career teacher at York High School: “In my PGCE year it was extremely useful as a networking forum; it meant that I had a chance to break out of the ‘trainee bubble’ and interact with people from different levels of experience and /or who worked in vastly different schools to my placements. This year, it has been the best subject specific CPD, helping me to feel like a history teacher in York, as opposed to simply in my school. It has enabled me to make connections I could not otherwise make and has helped me to feel more confident that most of what I am doing IS effective and confident to improve my practice where I am less effective. YorkClio constantly introduces me to things and experiences. I have learnt so much in this year alone, from initial assessment of the first set of the ‘new’ GCSE results, to sharing best practice on the basis of OFSTED pilot visits, to engaging with sources in the Borthwick. The meetings help to invigorate and reinspire my love of history and, by proxy, my engagement and creativity in the classroom. YorkClio stops my classroom (or school) becoming an echo chamber and helps to make me challenge my own assumptions about what ‘good’ teaching is, and shows me how I can be the very best teacher possible – both for the children in front of me and for myself. YorkClio is a community which I feel lucky to be part of. There is strength and camaraderie evident in the relationships between York History teachers. In a city so full of rich and vibrant history, it makes sense that we have our rich and vibrant history teacher forum – YorkClio.”
Steve Hardy, Foundation Learning Leader (Geography, Religious Studies, MFL, Citizenship & History) at York High School: “The YorkClio group provides me with the space and stimulus to actually stop and think about history when most days my beloved subject often finds itself at the bottom of a very long list.”
Natalie Kesterton, Head of History at Ryedale School: “As a new head of a small department YorkClio really helped me to find my feet working in a new school, having the community to connect to in York has given me an external ‘department’ and I have grown so much as a teacher and leader thanks to our meetings!”
Ben Longworth, early career teacher at Millthorpe School: “YorkClio is just fantastic, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is a free, termly opportunity for CPD, delivered by some of the big hitters of the history teaching world. It is great way to ‘top up’ your knowledge of history pedagogy, and learn about new approaches and fresh takes on old classics. It keeps you up to date with the latest thinking and wisdom and is one reason why history teaching in York continues to be excellent. Secondly, it’s a superb way to meet fellow history teachers. You can refresh and build friendships, whilst also networking with people at other schools. It’s also great to get inspired by others’ love for the subject, and their zest for the subject and their profession (especially in the doldrums of mid-winter!). Thirdly, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to re-engage with your inner history student, which may have become slightly buried under the mountain of preparation, marking and reports. YorkClio often invites professorial historians to deliver lectures at the sessions, allowing you to engage with academia and just have a good old geek out! I have never regretted going to a YorkClio meeting, it’s always been useful and/or inspiring, and I would urge any teacher, new or old to attend.”
Jacqui Ramsden, early career teacher at Ampleforth College: “The YorkClio network is invaluable for supporting early career teachers. It helps to provide support for NQTs who are trying to find their feet in new schools and departments, and offers a further source of support and guidance outside of your school. The meetings help to refresh and renew ideas, which is great when you’re teaching full time. The meetings also allow you to develop a network of local contacts, and friendly faces when you go to HA or SHP training.”
Hugh Richards, Head of History at Huntington School: “YorkCLIO has been invaluable to my CPD. The combination of local history connections, contact with academics, shared wisdom from local teachers and nationally recognised history education experts is a really powerful one. It has allowed me (and many history teachers and departments in this area) to get the information they need to stay ahead of the curve and stay in touch with the history. I have learned and gained a huge amount from these connections. I feel that wherever possible such networks should be fostered and treasured. The offshoots – York History Nerds for enriching and challenging the city’s history undergraduate and Oxbridge candidates and the RQT programme have not only hugely benefitted the intended recipients but also helped me move my practice on as a teacher and mentor.”
Hannah Smith, early career teacher at Fulford School: “For me it is invaluable CPD. Really varied and thought provoking issues are discussed. I always leave wanting to adapt resources/schemes of work etc based on the discussions. Always food for thought!”
Henry Walton, Head of Humanities at Manor CE Academy – “York Clio is outstanding, both as a large and growing group of mutually-supportive history-teaching colleagues, and as an invaluable website for sourcing superb teaching resources and ideas.”
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