Christine Counsell
@counsellc.bsky.social
Pinned
Christine Counsell
@counsellc.bsky.social
· Oct 18
Four ways the Francis review can succeed where others failed
In the first instalment of our new series, Chirstine Counsell draws lessons from 35 years of attempted reform
schoolsweek.co.uk
My @schoolsweek.bsky.social piece on curriculum reviews. If we learn from 35 yrs of them, we might avoid the ever-recurring problems. But without strong subject-curricular training, espec for senior/system leaders, the finest rubric will still feed old distortions.
schoolsweek.co.uk/what-a-natio...
schoolsweek.co.uk/what-a-natio...
A joy to see this. Feedback from pupils and parents shows #ChangingHistoriesKS3 is changing the game for KS3 history
Rich story, deep scholarly connections, rigorous enquiry questions and enquiry journeys all need to be embedded and integrated, not bolted on as extra texts.
Rich story, deep scholarly connections, rigorous enquiry questions and enquiry journeys all need to be embedded and integrated, not bolted on as extra texts.
Lovely feedback from parents at our Open Evening tonight. Those new to the school blown away by our curriculum content. Existing parents telling me their children love History for the stories. It's #ChangingHistoriesKS3 Thanks to @counsellc.bsky.social @willgoodfellow82.bsky.social and authors!
October 5, 2025 at 6:46 PM
A joy to see this. Feedback from pupils and parents shows #ChangingHistoriesKS3 is changing the game for KS3 history
Rich story, deep scholarly connections, rigorous enquiry questions and enquiry journeys all need to be embedded and integrated, not bolted on as extra texts.
Rich story, deep scholarly connections, rigorous enquiry questions and enquiry journeys all need to be embedded and integrated, not bolted on as extra texts.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
You can read my article on using AI in the history classroom.
www.history.org.uk/publications...
@counsellc.bsky.social
@andywalker1965.bsky.social
@danlyndon.bsky.social
@richardjonesnerzic.bsky.social
@edpodesta.bsky.social
@apf102.bsky.social
@hollyhiscox.bsky.social
@historywo.bsky.social
www.history.org.uk/publications...
@counsellc.bsky.social
@andywalker1965.bsky.social
@danlyndon.bsky.social
@richardjonesnerzic.bsky.social
@edpodesta.bsky.social
@apf102.bsky.social
@hollyhiscox.bsky.social
@historywo.bsky.social
September 23, 2025 at 5:31 PM
You can read my article on using AI in the history classroom.
www.history.org.uk/publications...
@counsellc.bsky.social
@andywalker1965.bsky.social
@danlyndon.bsky.social
@richardjonesnerzic.bsky.social
@edpodesta.bsky.social
@apf102.bsky.social
@hollyhiscox.bsky.social
@historywo.bsky.social
www.history.org.uk/publications...
@counsellc.bsky.social
@andywalker1965.bsky.social
@danlyndon.bsky.social
@richardjonesnerzic.bsky.social
@edpodesta.bsky.social
@apf102.bsky.social
@hollyhiscox.bsky.social
@historywo.bsky.social
Teachers of American history, @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social has pulled together a rather nifty and very interesting history of US tariffs across the 20th century.
Donald Trump and the history of US Tariffs
spartacus-educational.com/spartacus-bl...
@crispinb.bsky.social
@flibbertigibbitt.bsky.social
@horhpodcast.bsky.social
@gemmamh.bsky.social
@terryhaydn.bsky.social
@arthurjchapman.bsky.social
@counsellc.bsky.social
@renskejanssen.bsky.social
spartacus-educational.com/spartacus-bl...
@crispinb.bsky.social
@flibbertigibbitt.bsky.social
@horhpodcast.bsky.social
@gemmamh.bsky.social
@terryhaydn.bsky.social
@arthurjchapman.bsky.social
@counsellc.bsky.social
@renskejanssen.bsky.social
September 17, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Teachers of American history, @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social has pulled together a rather nifty and very interesting history of US tariffs across the 20th century.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
Working on creating lessons based on the super new book Connected Worlds c 1000 -c1600 by @counsellc.bsky.social et al. Lessons Intended for equiv yr 8, French students so this might work for EAL. Possibly too ambitious as I have not taught these students before so no idea of their level but 💪
July 31, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Working on creating lessons based on the super new book Connected Worlds c 1000 -c1600 by @counsellc.bsky.social et al. Lessons Intended for equiv yr 8, French students so this might work for EAL. Possibly too ambitious as I have not taught these students before so no idea of their level but 💪
Reposted by Christine Counsell
I am education podcasting my way around the gravel roads of #Hokkaido. First up, I enjoyed the final They Behave For Me of the year with @counsellc.bsky.social talking about her classic blog on genericism. I welcome these dips into the classic blogs of the past having missed them 1st time around.
July 29, 2025 at 8:43 AM
I am education podcasting my way around the gravel roads of #Hokkaido. First up, I enjoyed the final They Behave For Me of the year with @counsellc.bsky.social talking about her classic blog on genericism. I welcome these dips into the classic blogs of the past having missed them 1st time around.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
open.spotify.com/episode/4UZr...
Really good episode with excellent food for thought for any senior leader trying to embed consistency in T&L across a sch alongside maintaining subject rigour and validity.
@adamboxereducation.bsky.social
@amymayforrester.bsky.social
@counsellc.bsky.social
🍎🎓📚
Really good episode with excellent food for thought for any senior leader trying to embed consistency in T&L across a sch alongside maintaining subject rigour and validity.
@adamboxereducation.bsky.social
@amymayforrester.bsky.social
@counsellc.bsky.social
🍎🎓📚
What is genericism, and why is it so important? With Christine Councsell
They Behave For Me · Episode
open.spotify.com
July 21, 2025 at 8:59 AM
open.spotify.com/episode/4UZr...
Really good episode with excellent food for thought for any senior leader trying to embed consistency in T&L across a sch alongside maintaining subject rigour and validity.
@adamboxereducation.bsky.social
@amymayforrester.bsky.social
@counsellc.bsky.social
🍎🎓📚
Really good episode with excellent food for thought for any senior leader trying to embed consistency in T&L across a sch alongside maintaining subject rigour and validity.
@adamboxereducation.bsky.social
@amymayforrester.bsky.social
@counsellc.bsky.social
🍎🎓📚
Reposted by Christine Counsell
Listening to this pca.st/episode/5203...
It's very good breakdown of all sorts of aspects of education changes over the last 10 years and @counsellc.bsky.social has a great sense of what went well and what mutated to more of the same.
It's very good breakdown of all sorts of aspects of education changes over the last 10 years and @counsellc.bsky.social has a great sense of what went well and what mutated to more of the same.
What is genericism, and why is it so important? With Christine Councsell
pca.st
July 20, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Listening to this pca.st/episode/5203...
It's very good breakdown of all sorts of aspects of education changes over the last 10 years and @counsellc.bsky.social has a great sense of what went well and what mutated to more of the same.
It's very good breakdown of all sorts of aspects of education changes over the last 10 years and @counsellc.bsky.social has a great sense of what went well and what mutated to more of the same.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
Why did edu-legend @counsellc.bsky.social write Genericism's Children? Why is she worried about genericism, and why does she care so much about the dignity of individual subjects?
All this and more, in a stonkingly good episode!
open.spotify.com/episode/4UZr...
All this and more, in a stonkingly good episode!
open.spotify.com/episode/4UZr...
July 18, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Why did edu-legend @counsellc.bsky.social write Genericism's Children? Why is she worried about genericism, and why does she care so much about the dignity of individual subjects?
All this and more, in a stonkingly good episode!
open.spotify.com/episode/4UZr...
All this and more, in a stonkingly good episode!
open.spotify.com/episode/4UZr...
This short thread by Cat Priggs made me think:
History planning is about tying things together into a shape, a flow – usually a story & often a parallel flow of the analytic direction created by the EQ. It isn't about breaking things up into propositions and it's rarely about teaching a procedure.
History planning is about tying things together into a shape, a flow – usually a story & often a parallel flow of the analytic direction created by the EQ. It isn't about breaking things up into propositions and it's rarely about teaching a procedure.
The chapter ties everything together into one rich and accessible narrative.
In just one lesson, we:
- Unpicked the chaos after William I’s death
- Learnt how Henry I restored stability in England and Normandy…
In just one lesson, we:
- Unpicked the chaos after William I’s death
- Learnt how Henry I restored stability in England and Normandy…
July 7, 2025 at 6:25 PM
This short thread by Cat Priggs made me think:
History planning is about tying things together into a shape, a flow – usually a story & often a parallel flow of the analytic direction created by the EQ. It isn't about breaking things up into propositions and it's rarely about teaching a procedure.
History planning is about tying things together into a shape, a flow – usually a story & often a parallel flow of the analytic direction created by the EQ. It isn't about breaking things up into propositions and it's rarely about teaching a procedure.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
How does an enquiry question sustain interest, build momentum and give all pupils access to disciplinary thinking across a lesson sequence? How does the EQ help you to integrate compelling stories and rich, extended text?
Register bit.ly/4nrA8Mv for Cat and Elizabeth's webinar on Tues 8 July 3.30pm
Register bit.ly/4nrA8Mv for Cat and Elizabeth's webinar on Tues 8 July 3.30pm
Really excited to deliver this FREE session with @egcarr.bsky.social
We’ll discuss the power of enquiry questions, including how they shape the analytic direction and purpose of a sequence of lessons, create a sense of intrigue & infuse lessons with energy! @counsellc.bsky.social
We’ll discuss the power of enquiry questions, including how they shape the analytic direction and purpose of a sequence of lessons, create a sense of intrigue & infuse lessons with energy! @counsellc.bsky.social
June 30, 2025 at 7:36 PM
How does an enquiry question sustain interest, build momentum and give all pupils access to disciplinary thinking across a lesson sequence? How does the EQ help you to integrate compelling stories and rich, extended text?
Register bit.ly/4nrA8Mv for Cat and Elizabeth's webinar on Tues 8 July 3.30pm
Register bit.ly/4nrA8Mv for Cat and Elizabeth's webinar on Tues 8 July 3.30pm
As I said in my lecture on Weds eve, receiving the Medlicott medal for services to history has been deeply special for me, not least because it allows me to celebrate and promote the importance of subject communities. We would be nowhere without @histassoc.bsky.social. Thank you HA. You're the best.
Christine Counsell is awarded the Medlicott Medal for services to history for 2025.
July 4, 2025 at 11:55 AM
As I said in my lecture on Weds eve, receiving the Medlicott medal for services to history has been deeply special for me, not least because it allows me to celebrate and promote the importance of subject communities. We would be nowhere without @histassoc.bsky.social. Thank you HA. You're the best.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
Last night I was honoured to receive an Honorary Fellowship from the @histassoc.bsky.social
It’s hard to put into words what this means. It is more than an association to me; it’s a community that has supported, sustained and nurtured me at so many points in my career.
It’s hard to put into words what this means. It is more than an association to me; it’s a community that has supported, sustained and nurtured me at so many points in my career.
July 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Last night I was honoured to receive an Honorary Fellowship from the @histassoc.bsky.social
It’s hard to put into words what this means. It is more than an association to me; it’s a community that has supported, sustained and nurtured me at so many points in my career.
It’s hard to put into words what this means. It is more than an association to me; it’s a community that has supported, sustained and nurtured me at so many points in my career.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
Brilliant to see Hachette Learning authors @catherinepriggs.bsky.social @davidjhibbert.bsky.social @michaeldoron.bsky.social and @lambhearttea.bsky.social receive their HA honorary fellowships. Huge congrats to #ChangingHistoriesKS3 series ed @counsellc.bsky.social on her Medlicott Medal too!
July 2, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Brilliant to see Hachette Learning authors @catherinepriggs.bsky.social @davidjhibbert.bsky.social @michaeldoron.bsky.social and @lambhearttea.bsky.social receive their HA honorary fellowships. Huge congrats to #ChangingHistoriesKS3 series ed @counsellc.bsky.social on her Medlicott Medal too!
How does an enquiry question sustain interest, build momentum and give all pupils access to disciplinary thinking across a lesson sequence? How does the EQ help you to integrate compelling stories and rich, extended text?
Register bit.ly/4nrA8Mv for Cat and Elizabeth's webinar on Tues 8 July 3.30pm
Register bit.ly/4nrA8Mv for Cat and Elizabeth's webinar on Tues 8 July 3.30pm
Really excited to deliver this FREE session with @egcarr.bsky.social
We’ll discuss the power of enquiry questions, including how they shape the analytic direction and purpose of a sequence of lessons, create a sense of intrigue & infuse lessons with energy! @counsellc.bsky.social
We’ll discuss the power of enquiry questions, including how they shape the analytic direction and purpose of a sequence of lessons, create a sense of intrigue & infuse lessons with energy! @counsellc.bsky.social
June 30, 2025 at 7:36 PM
How does an enquiry question sustain interest, build momentum and give all pupils access to disciplinary thinking across a lesson sequence? How does the EQ help you to integrate compelling stories and rich, extended text?
Register bit.ly/4nrA8Mv for Cat and Elizabeth's webinar on Tues 8 July 3.30pm
Register bit.ly/4nrA8Mv for Cat and Elizabeth's webinar on Tues 8 July 3.30pm
Reposted by Christine Counsell
Looking for FREE CPD that can make a real difference to your KS3 history teaching? Look no further. The heat wave of our awesome Changing Histories webinar series continues. First @counsellc.bsky.social, then @paulalobo.bsky.social followed by @hughrichards.bsky.social and now Cat and Elizabeth 🌡️ ☀️
Really excited to deliver this FREE session with @egcarr.bsky.social
We’ll discuss the power of enquiry questions, including how they shape the analytic direction and purpose of a sequence of lessons, create a sense of intrigue & infuse lessons with energy! @counsellc.bsky.social
We’ll discuss the power of enquiry questions, including how they shape the analytic direction and purpose of a sequence of lessons, create a sense of intrigue & infuse lessons with energy! @counsellc.bsky.social
June 30, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Looking for FREE CPD that can make a real difference to your KS3 history teaching? Look no further. The heat wave of our awesome Changing Histories webinar series continues. First @counsellc.bsky.social, then @paulalobo.bsky.social followed by @hughrichards.bsky.social and now Cat and Elizabeth 🌡️ ☀️
Reposted by Christine Counsell
Genuinely been looking forward to this arriving - and just in time for planning next year. It looks just as fabulous as book 1!
@counsellc.bsky.social
#HomeEd #History
@counsellc.bsky.social
#HomeEd #History
June 28, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Genuinely been looking forward to this arriving - and just in time for planning next year. It looks just as fabulous as book 1!
@counsellc.bsky.social
#HomeEd #History
@counsellc.bsky.social
#HomeEd #History
Reposted by Christine Counsell
And here it is. Finally. Surrounded by some of the scholarship that shaped it. It’s beautiful and such fun to teach - it has given my Year 8 class stories to live inside. A parent messaged me to say history has ‘never been so fun!’ - all I did was tell the class stories from this book.
June 23, 2025 at 8:48 PM
And here it is. Finally. Surrounded by some of the scholarship that shaped it. It’s beautiful and such fun to teach - it has given my Year 8 class stories to live inside. A parent messaged me to say history has ‘never been so fun!’ - all I did was tell the class stories from this book.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
*Of course* school prepares children for their futures, but not by being a mini workplace. It’s by giving them a breadth of foundational knowledge and experience across the big, enduring disciplines and human pursuits. The kinds of things they won’t get chance to learn about or experience at work.
June 2, 2025 at 9:35 PM
*Of course* school prepares children for their futures, but not by being a mini workplace. It’s by giving them a breadth of foundational knowledge and experience across the big, enduring disciplines and human pursuits. The kinds of things they won’t get chance to learn about or experience at work.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
Big HA congratulations to Dr Christine Counsell on her OBE for services to education! 👏 She’s also receiving our 2025 Medlicott Medal for outstanding service to history. A year of well-earned recognition! Got a fave Christine moment? Tell us!
#OBE #MedlicottMedal #HistoryEd
#OBE #MedlicottMedal #HistoryEd
June 19, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Big HA congratulations to Dr Christine Counsell on her OBE for services to education! 👏 She’s also receiving our 2025 Medlicott Medal for outstanding service to history. A year of well-earned recognition! Got a fave Christine moment? Tell us!
#OBE #MedlicottMedal #HistoryEd
#OBE #MedlicottMedal #HistoryEd
Reposted by Christine Counsell
Delighted to see @counsellc.bsky.social recognised with an OBE. Where would we be without her wisdom on history, curriculum, assessment? She has profoundly shaped me as a history teacher and curriculum leader. schoolsweek.co.uk/kings-birthd...
King's birthday honours: Top gongs for northern trust CEOs
70 people with links to England's school system recognised
schoolsweek.co.uk
June 14, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Delighted to see @counsellc.bsky.social recognised with an OBE. Where would we be without her wisdom on history, curriculum, assessment? She has profoundly shaped me as a history teacher and curriculum leader. schoolsweek.co.uk/kings-birthd...
Reposted by Christine Counsell
Some amazing people honoured in education and I am particularly thrilled that it includes @counsellc.bsky.social. She’s brought so much wisdom and sharpness of thought to the sector. I’ve been so lucky to work with her and the impact she has had for me personally has been profound.
Congratulations @counsellc.bsky.social! Delighted to see your name here!
schoolsweek.co.uk/kings-birthd...
schoolsweek.co.uk/kings-birthd...
King's birthday honours: Top gongs for northern trust CEOs
70 people with links to England's school system recognised
schoolsweek.co.uk
June 14, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Some amazing people honoured in education and I am particularly thrilled that it includes @counsellc.bsky.social. She’s brought so much wisdom and sharpness of thought to the sector. I’ve been so lucky to work with her and the impact she has had for me personally has been profound.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
Couldn't have hoped for better company than these guys to celebrate PUBLICATION DAY! of our Year 8 #ChangingHistoriesKS3
And mega thanks to YOU, Will. Only the finest publisher could understand what it takes to define a new gold standard in textbooks & to support my brilliant team for 4 long years 👏
And mega thanks to YOU, Will. Only the finest publisher could understand what it takes to define a new gold standard in textbooks & to support my brilliant team for 4 long years 👏
In this photo are my two babies....and Rupert and Henry 😂 We're thrilled to announce that Changing Histories: Expanding Worlds c1600-c1870 is now out! Thank you to all the incredible people involved in this project and to everyone who's already ordered a copy/class set! You have impeccable taste. X
June 13, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Couldn't have hoped for better company than these guys to celebrate PUBLICATION DAY! of our Year 8 #ChangingHistoriesKS3
And mega thanks to YOU, Will. Only the finest publisher could understand what it takes to define a new gold standard in textbooks & to support my brilliant team for 4 long years 👏
And mega thanks to YOU, Will. Only the finest publisher could understand what it takes to define a new gold standard in textbooks & to support my brilliant team for 4 long years 👏
Reposted by Christine Counsell
Congratulations @counsellc.bsky.social! Delighted to see your name here!
schoolsweek.co.uk/kings-birthd...
schoolsweek.co.uk/kings-birthd...
King's birthday honours: Top gongs for northern trust CEOs
70 people with links to England's school system recognised
schoolsweek.co.uk
June 14, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Congratulations @counsellc.bsky.social! Delighted to see your name here!
schoolsweek.co.uk/kings-birthd...
schoolsweek.co.uk/kings-birthd...
Reposted by Christine Counsell
An absolute pleasure. What a complete joy to work on this! Really enjoying supporting schools who are embracing Changing Histories and seeing a much richer, coherent, beautifully constructed curriculum as a result.
June 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
An absolute pleasure. What a complete joy to work on this! Really enjoying supporting schools who are embracing Changing Histories and seeing a much richer, coherent, beautifully constructed curriculum as a result.
Couldn't have hoped for better company than these guys to celebrate PUBLICATION DAY! of our Year 8 #ChangingHistoriesKS3
And mega thanks to YOU, Will. Only the finest publisher could understand what it takes to define a new gold standard in textbooks & to support my brilliant team for 4 long years 👏
And mega thanks to YOU, Will. Only the finest publisher could understand what it takes to define a new gold standard in textbooks & to support my brilliant team for 4 long years 👏
In this photo are my two babies....and Rupert and Henry 😂 We're thrilled to announce that Changing Histories: Expanding Worlds c1600-c1870 is now out! Thank you to all the incredible people involved in this project and to everyone who's already ordered a copy/class set! You have impeccable taste. X
June 13, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Couldn't have hoped for better company than these guys to celebrate PUBLICATION DAY! of our Year 8 #ChangingHistoriesKS3
And mega thanks to YOU, Will. Only the finest publisher could understand what it takes to define a new gold standard in textbooks & to support my brilliant team for 4 long years 👏
And mega thanks to YOU, Will. Only the finest publisher could understand what it takes to define a new gold standard in textbooks & to support my brilliant team for 4 long years 👏