We are pleased to announce Curriculum Manager for medieval and early modern history, Gavin Sheffield, has been awarded a Teaching Fellowship with distinction from the Historical Association. The programme was launched in January 2016 with the aim of providing subject knowledge-focused professional development for teachers of medieval history.

The programme was made possible by a government grant commemorating the anniversary of Henry V’s victory at the Battle of Agincourt. The grant enabled 14 teachers from across the country to develop a selection of resources about the middle ages for use by other teachers. Part of this development involved attending an intensive residential weekend at the University of Warwick followed by an online course studied from February to June.

Gavin created a teaching resource on the use of medieval and early modern art and visual culture, testing it in his classes at the College. Once submitted and analysed by the History Association panel, they awarded the fellowship with the comment, “A valuable and innovative activity helping A level students (and potentially others) develop a sense of period, visualise the society they are studying and begin to understand the ideas of the period.”

Further to this, Gavin applied for and was granted a distinction award after he added further development and depth to his initial project. The resource he has created is currently being added to the History Association teaching resources section on their website.

Gavin said, “It has been a very long but rewarding journey and I will now hold the Fellowship until 2019, at which time I can apply to continue with the status by completing further personal development. It has allowed me to combine my passions for history and art into one project.”