That’s the view of the charity that looks after the iconic Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and four other world heritage sites around the UK belonging to the Crown.
So the Historic Royal Palaces charity has announced the ‘Inspiring History’ awards for teachers “who bring the past to life in the classroom”.
Historian and television presenter Lucy Worsley leads the distinguished judging panel.
“Great history teaching helps pupils think and question the world around them rather than just what happened,” she said. “We’re looking for the inspirational people who do this every day in the classroom, to recognise their passion in teaching.”
History helps make sense of the world and children’s place in it to spark their curiosity, the charity says.
Good teachers encourage young people to ask questions and develop critical thinking, which it says is crucial in the age of social media and AI.
Historic Royal Palaces is awarding 10 regional and national winners who get £500 each, plus £500 for their school or college. The overall winner gets double for both.
The independent charity gets no government or Crown funding and relies on visitors for revenue to care for its six palaces — the Tower of London, Banqueting House in Whitehall, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, Hampton Court Palace and Hillsborough Castle.
Finding the outstanding history teachers is part of its ten-year programme to reach every school in the UK and shine a light on those who bring the past to life and inspire their pupils beyond exam results.
The awards for primary and secondary schools as well as further education colleges and special educational needs centres are being made at a glitzy night at the Tower of London next June, when the ten winners will be revealed.
They run across the UK in the four devolved nations, collaborating with Cadw in Wales, Royal Collection Trust in Scotland and the Palace of Holyrood House, the Scottish Maritime Museum and Scottish Association for the Teaching of History, as well as the National Museums of Northern Ireland and their History Teachers’ Association.
