Ed Durbin
@edurbin.bsky.social
History Teacher and Curriculum Leader / Lead Practitioner T and L / Textbooks / Bristol / over educated childminder
Reposted by Ed Durbin
Think it’s more depressing than that. It’s about convenience.
No, I don’t want to have to help my child learn stuff at home.
No, I don’t want my child upset because you put them in DT for no HWK
I’ve suddenly discovered something that’s important to me, why didn’t you say something sooner?
No, I don’t want to have to help my child learn stuff at home.
No, I don’t want my child upset because you put them in DT for no HWK
I’ve suddenly discovered something that’s important to me, why didn’t you say something sooner?
January 17, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Think it’s more depressing than that. It’s about convenience.
No, I don’t want to have to help my child learn stuff at home.
No, I don’t want my child upset because you put them in DT for no HWK
I’ve suddenly discovered something that’s important to me, why didn’t you say something sooner?
No, I don’t want to have to help my child learn stuff at home.
No, I don’t want my child upset because you put them in DT for no HWK
I’ve suddenly discovered something that’s important to me, why didn’t you say something sooner?
The problem with journalists’ commentary on British education in a nutshell
January 17, 2026 at 10:49 AM
The problem with journalists’ commentary on British education in a nutshell
Reposted by Ed Durbin
Friends, Claudette Colvin—the 15-year-old who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus in March 1955 & joined the federal case against bus segregation that went to the Supreme Court — died today at age 86. But there are lots of myths and mis-impressions about her. A short corrective thread:
January 14, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Friends, Claudette Colvin—the 15-year-old who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus in March 1955 & joined the federal case against bus segregation that went to the Supreme Court — died today at age 86. But there are lots of myths and mis-impressions about her. A short corrective thread:
Reposted by Ed Durbin
OK. So I got interested in who exactly IS drafting the curriculum. The picture is super mixed but worrying in places - have put a few headlines below but would welcome comment from DfE! If anyone has more information to contribute I would be interested. This is based on a quick search of names /1
Who is drafting England’s new curriculum? Here is the full list of experts...
Revealed: The experts shaping England’s new curriculum
Dozens of ‘curriculum drafters’ have been chosen to help the government revise the national curriculum, following on from last year’s Francis review
www.tes.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:10 PM
OK. So I got interested in who exactly IS drafting the curriculum. The picture is super mixed but worrying in places - have put a few headlines below but would welcome comment from DfE! If anyone has more information to contribute I would be interested. This is based on a quick search of names /1
@arthurjchapman.bsky.social one for you causal reasoning in the wild - a Sierra Leonian chief reflecting on the 1898 House Tax War and using metaphor to communicate complex causation!
www.jstor.org/stable/30210...
www.jstor.org/stable/30210...
December 4, 2025 at 11:34 PM
@arthurjchapman.bsky.social one for you causal reasoning in the wild - a Sierra Leonian chief reflecting on the 1898 House Tax War and using metaphor to communicate complex causation!
www.jstor.org/stable/30210...
www.jstor.org/stable/30210...
Reposted by Ed Durbin
@justice2history.bsky.social have a new book coming out in collaboration with Katie Donnington and Nick Draper. It is now available for free download: discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10...
#HistoryEducation #historyteacher #TeacherEducation
#HistoryEducation #historyteacher #TeacherEducation
November 27, 2025 at 9:52 AM
@justice2history.bsky.social have a new book coming out in collaboration with Katie Donnington and Nick Draper. It is now available for free download: discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10...
#HistoryEducation #historyteacher #TeacherEducation
#HistoryEducation #historyteacher #TeacherEducation
Reposted by Ed Durbin
🚨 History teachers, we’re back! 🚨
Join us on 7 Feb 2026 for a day of workshops and a nice curry – all for £25.
Ten years after the ‘knowledge turn’, we’re exploring what knowledge-rich history teaching looks like today.
Presenters & link below 👇
Join us on 7 Feb 2026 for a day of workshops and a nice curry – all for £25.
Ten years after the ‘knowledge turn’, we’re exploring what knowledge-rich history teaching looks like today.
Presenters & link below 👇
October 24, 2025 at 3:27 PM
🚨 History teachers, we’re back! 🚨
Join us on 7 Feb 2026 for a day of workshops and a nice curry – all for £25.
Ten years after the ‘knowledge turn’, we’re exploring what knowledge-rich history teaching looks like today.
Presenters & link below 👇
Join us on 7 Feb 2026 for a day of workshops and a nice curry – all for £25.
Ten years after the ‘knowledge turn’, we’re exploring what knowledge-rich history teaching looks like today.
Presenters & link below 👇
Reposted by Ed Durbin
On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day.
As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.
At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.
As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.
At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.
October 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day.
As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.
At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.
As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.
At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.
Reposted by Ed Durbin
The report featured in the Guardian today on the inclusion of women in hustory lessons is really important - lets make women’s voices heard and their actions remembered. www.history.org.uk/secondary/ca...
Report on Reclaiming Women’s Place in the History Curriculum
www.history.org.uk
September 24, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The report featured in the Guardian today on the inclusion of women in hustory lessons is really important - lets make women’s voices heard and their actions remembered. www.history.org.uk/secondary/ca...
Reposted by Ed Durbin
Reposted by Ed Durbin
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 7:12 AM
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
Reposted by Ed Durbin
It's that time of year when we evaluate our curriculum. I would really appreciate it if anyone could have a look over ours. What are we missing? What needs changing? Does it flow properly? Does it prepare students from KS4 & 5?
Any Feedback much appreciated. #historyteacher
Any Feedback much appreciated. #historyteacher
June 9, 2025 at 4:33 AM
It's that time of year when we evaluate our curriculum. I would really appreciate it if anyone could have a look over ours. What are we missing? What needs changing? Does it flow properly? Does it prepare students from KS4 & 5?
Any Feedback much appreciated. #historyteacher
Any Feedback much appreciated. #historyteacher
Reposted by Ed Durbin
No shade on James, who is just playing the game along with the rest of us, but the fact students need to know all *this* as well as the *history* remains bonkers.
They have to spend time doing this sort of nonsense in so many subjects - surely we can examine better?
They have to spend time doing this sort of nonsense in so many subjects - surely we can examine better?
So glad to see lots of students outside the exam hall for Paper 1 with their ‘If faced with’ question stem sheets. Juggling the content is difficult enough so having this quick reference point is a big help. #historyteacher
docs.google.com/file/d/1x2D1...
docs.google.com/file/d/1x2D1...
May 22, 2025 at 5:20 AM
No shade on James, who is just playing the game along with the rest of us, but the fact students need to know all *this* as well as the *history* remains bonkers.
They have to spend time doing this sort of nonsense in so many subjects - surely we can examine better?
They have to spend time doing this sort of nonsense in so many subjects - surely we can examine better?
Look what’s arrived @colinmccormick.bsky.social @katieamery.bsky.social
Looking forward to getting stuck in
Looking forward to getting stuck in
May 15, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Look what’s arrived @colinmccormick.bsky.social @katieamery.bsky.social
Looking forward to getting stuck in
Looking forward to getting stuck in
Reposted by Ed Durbin
Want a free copy of our book? Retweet or like and we'll pick the winner on Friday
May 13, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Want a free copy of our book? Retweet or like and we'll pick the winner on Friday
Reposted by Ed Durbin
In 1665 a recipe for a tea caudle created by Sir Kenelm Digby was published. All you need is to mix together two yolks, sugar, and brewed tea. Suggested for days when ‘you have not the conveniency to eat presently a competent meal’.
Stuart Huel?
Would that I was brave enough to try it.
Stuart Huel?
Would that I was brave enough to try it.
May 12, 2025 at 12:52 PM
In 1665 a recipe for a tea caudle created by Sir Kenelm Digby was published. All you need is to mix together two yolks, sugar, and brewed tea. Suggested for days when ‘you have not the conveniency to eat presently a competent meal’.
Stuart Huel?
Would that I was brave enough to try it.
Stuart Huel?
Would that I was brave enough to try it.
#HAConf25 was a blast.
Thanks to @jacobolivey.bsky.social @mrsthorne.bsky.social @catherinepriggs.bsky.social @egcarr.bsky.social @davidjhibbert.bsky.social @e-nicholson.bsky.social and @michaeldoron.bsky.social for terrific workshops - and to the @histassoc.bsky.social team for organising!
Thanks to @jacobolivey.bsky.social @mrsthorne.bsky.social @catherinepriggs.bsky.social @egcarr.bsky.social @davidjhibbert.bsky.social @e-nicholson.bsky.social and @michaeldoron.bsky.social for terrific workshops - and to the @histassoc.bsky.social team for organising!
It has been wonderful to spend a few days amongst so many people who genuinely value and appreciate my contribution/role in the history teaching community. Thank you for always making me feel like I belong, even though I'd be a rubbish teacher! You're friends first, authors second. #haconf25
May 10, 2025 at 8:45 PM
#HAConf25 was a blast.
Thanks to @jacobolivey.bsky.social @mrsthorne.bsky.social @catherinepriggs.bsky.social @egcarr.bsky.social @davidjhibbert.bsky.social @e-nicholson.bsky.social and @michaeldoron.bsky.social for terrific workshops - and to the @histassoc.bsky.social team for organising!
Thanks to @jacobolivey.bsky.social @mrsthorne.bsky.social @catherinepriggs.bsky.social @egcarr.bsky.social @davidjhibbert.bsky.social @e-nicholson.bsky.social and @michaeldoron.bsky.social for terrific workshops - and to the @histassoc.bsky.social team for organising!
Reposted by Ed Durbin
Evidence-based, ‘balanced’ history like this is conducive to national cohesion in modern Britain. Far right denialism & justification of colonialism is not.
Buy Now! @richkhistory.bsky.social the "sister book" to his one. One for schools and people interested in Empire/slavery. Email enquiries@cpmmmedia.com with the subject line "Book Order" or alternatively, order on Amazon. @sathnam.bsky.social @corinnefowler.bsky.social @alanlester.bsky.social
May 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Evidence-based, ‘balanced’ history like this is conducive to national cohesion in modern Britain. Far right denialism & justification of colonialism is not.
Reposted by Ed Durbin
Teaching historical concepts quite literally means teaching a language. Why is this and how do we do it?
The first of a three-post blog on substantive concepts and the language of history.
istorikteach.blogspot.com/2025/05/lang...
#historyteacher #history #EduSky
The first of a three-post blog on substantive concepts and the language of history.
istorikteach.blogspot.com/2025/05/lang...
#historyteacher #history #EduSky
Language and Substantive Concepts: Part 1 – Weighty Conceptual Terms
This is the first of a three-part post focusing on what I term, following Caroline Coffin, the “language of history” and substantive concept...
istorikteach.blogspot.com
May 3, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Teaching historical concepts quite literally means teaching a language. Why is this and how do we do it?
The first of a three-post blog on substantive concepts and the language of history.
istorikteach.blogspot.com/2025/05/lang...
#historyteacher #history #EduSky
The first of a three-post blog on substantive concepts and the language of history.
istorikteach.blogspot.com/2025/05/lang...
#historyteacher #history #EduSky
Reposted by Ed Durbin
@sathnam.bsky.social thanks for the inspiration. Sums up our aims. Book for schools out next week
April 29, 2025 at 1:14 PM
@sathnam.bsky.social thanks for the inspiration. Sums up our aims. Book for schools out next week
Reposted by Ed Durbin
Thinking about your teaching of the History A-level? I will be running a series of webinars with @histassoc.bsky.social between the 12th June and the 3rd July! Details are included in the link below, but feel free to ask me any questions about the course.
www.history.org.uk/secondary/ca...
www.history.org.uk/secondary/ca...
Webinar series: Developing students’ historical thinking at A-level
www.history.org.uk
April 29, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Thinking about your teaching of the History A-level? I will be running a series of webinars with @histassoc.bsky.social between the 12th June and the 3rd July! Details are included in the link below, but feel free to ask me any questions about the course.
www.history.org.uk/secondary/ca...
www.history.org.uk/secondary/ca...
Reposted by Ed Durbin
Interested in a direct approach to history teaching? 'Lean lessons' with booklets, whole-class reading, explanation, and lots of questions?
@jacobolivey.bsky.social and I are leading a webinar series for @histassoc.bsky.social in June – and it's cheap! Just £50 for all six webinars.
Link below! 👇
@jacobolivey.bsky.social and I are leading a webinar series for @histassoc.bsky.social in June – and it's cheap! Just £50 for all six webinars.
Link below! 👇
April 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Interested in a direct approach to history teaching? 'Lean lessons' with booklets, whole-class reading, explanation, and lots of questions?
@jacobolivey.bsky.social and I are leading a webinar series for @histassoc.bsky.social in June – and it's cheap! Just £50 for all six webinars.
Link below! 👇
@jacobolivey.bsky.social and I are leading a webinar series for @histassoc.bsky.social in June – and it's cheap! Just £50 for all six webinars.
Link below! 👇
Reposted by Ed Durbin
A British right wing culture war magazine, The Critic, has published an attack on me for the objections I make to historical misinformation. Here’s my response:
alanlester.co.uk/blog/a-lesse...
alanlester.co.uk/blog/a-lesse...
April 17, 2025 at 3:14 PM
A British right wing culture war magazine, The Critic, has published an attack on me for the objections I make to historical misinformation. Here’s my response:
alanlester.co.uk/blog/a-lesse...
alanlester.co.uk/blog/a-lesse...
Reposted by Ed Durbin
Funnily enough, I've been working on historic 'Buy British' campaigns recently. Some thoughts in the monster (!) thread 👇
Tl;dr: BB is a moralised demand on consumers that currently loses out to rivals - but only because of geopolitics. I.e. this is not destiny.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Tl;dr: BB is a moralised demand on consumers that currently loses out to rivals - but only because of geopolitics. I.e. this is not destiny.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reeves rejects calls for ‘buy British’ campaign in response to US tariffs
Chancellor says asking shoppers to prioritise UK products would make country too ‘inward-looking’
www.theguardian.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Funnily enough, I've been working on historic 'Buy British' campaigns recently. Some thoughts in the monster (!) thread 👇
Tl;dr: BB is a moralised demand on consumers that currently loses out to rivals - but only because of geopolitics. I.e. this is not destiny.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Tl;dr: BB is a moralised demand on consumers that currently loses out to rivals - but only because of geopolitics. I.e. this is not destiny.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...