History subject update  

Welcome to our autumn 2026 newsletter

After a busy summer term of History conferences and other teacher events the Subject Support team earned some time off. Of course, this was largely historically based as I visited Chester and Glastonbury, Hayley went on a long-awaited visit to Hever Castle, and our newest team member Millie delighted in the history and food of Verona.

Now, it’s that busy time of year getting back into the swing of things – we hope it’s going well at your end.

We’re looking forward to seeing you at various training events this term and continuing to support your teaching. We know that post-results can feel like a challenging period so please let us know if you’d like any extra support.

If any members of your team would like to receive subject-specific updates, they can easily sign up for AQA subject updates , so they’re always informed and part of our community.

Best wishes

Katie Hall, Hayley Bellis and Millie Sandford

Subject Support team for History

Help shape the future of digital assessment

We’d like to hear about your experiences of digital teaching, learning and assessment through a short survey.

By sharing your experiences, you’ll help us shape the guidance, resources and support teachers need as digital assessment continues to evolve.

The survey contains 24 questions, takes around 12 minutes to complete and closes on 1 November 2026. As a thank you, participants who complete the survey can enter a prize draw for the chance to win one of four £50 gift vouchers.

Curriculum Connect sessions

Join us for these events where we will share high-level insights into the data from the summer series, key findings from the examiners reports and areas for improvement to support student progress.

Come and meet your History Subject Support team to reflect on the 2026 series and network with other teachers. Book your place at one of our Curriculum Connect events:

• GCSE History: Exploring 2026 – Tuesday 29 September and Tuesday 6 October, 4pm–5pm
• A-level History: Exploring 2026 – Wednesday 23 September and Thursday 15 October, 4pm–5pm

We are also running a Curriculum Connect for NEA planning. This will look at choosing questions, preparing students for the NEA and managing the delivery.

• A-level History: NEA planning – Thursday 1 October, 4pm–5pm

Help shape new AQA GCSE History resources

Working with Royal Holloway University London, we're looking for schools to take part in the Inclusive Histories research project and trial free classroom-ready materials for Britain: Power and the People c1170 to the present day. Register your interest or contact Dr Claire Tupling at ctupling@aqa.org.uk to find out more.

Get more with MyAQA

myAQA gives you access to everything you need to plan, teach and assess, including our secure extranet – Centre Services. Here you’ll find essential resources, such as the latest past papers, as well as Teacher Online Standardisation (T-OLS) and much more.

Don’t have a myAQA account yet? Complete a short form to get started. Once your Exams Officer has verified your registration, then you’re ready to go.

Upcoming events

For autumn 2026, we’ve developed a range of free professional development training courses to help you improve your knowledge and classroom confidence.

• GCSE History training for autumn can be found on our website, including ‘live’ Exploring events which will target different question types across components.
• A-level History training for autumn can be found on our website, including ‘live’ mark scheme guidance and application courses.

The autumn term is packed with events, so keep an eye out for updates and reminders.

Student Advisory Group recruitment for 2026/27

Help your learners influence the future of exams

We’re looking for learners to join our Student Advisory Group for 2026/27.  The group gives young people a direct opportunity to share their experiences and views on qualifications, assessments and the wider exam system. Their insights will help shape the future of the curriculum, qualifications and assessments for young people, as well as our work to offer new vocational qualifications.

If you know any learners who may be interested, please encourage them to apply – we’re looking for students who have taken AQA qualifications, though this is not essential, and they can be sitting general or vocational qualifications.

Applications open: Monday 7 September 2026

Applications close: 5.00pm on Monday 21 September 2026

Thank you for helping us raise awareness of this opportunity among your learners. For more information about the Student Advisory Group and details on how to apply, please visit our website.

Specification reminders

Historic environment resource packs 2028

Look out for the 2028 GCSE History Historic environment resource packs which will be available on Centre Services this September.

The Historic Environment Sites for 2028 are:

• Norman England, c.1066–c.1100: The White Tower
• Medieval England, the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307: Acton Burnell Castle
• Elizabethan England, c.1568–1603: Kenilworth Castle
• Restoration England, 1660–1685: St Paul’s Cathedral

Historic environment sites for 2027

We change the specified sites/locations each year and you can find information about the sites that will be assessed for summer 2027 below.

The resource packs for 2027 can also be found on Centre Services under Assessment and Training>Teacher Support Materials.

The Historic Environment Sites for 2027 are:

• Norman England, c.1066–c.1100: The Battle of Hastings
• Medieval England, the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307: The Battle of Stirling Bridge
• Elizabethan England, c.1568–1603: The Spanish Armada
• Restoration England, 1660–1685: The Dutch Raid on the Medway, June 1667

Historic environment sites for 2029

We're pleased to announce that the following sites will be used for the 2029 exams. More details and resource packs will follow in September 2027.

• Norman England, c.1066–c.1100: Castle Acre Priory
• Medieval England, the reign of Edward I, 1272–1307: London around the time of Edward I
• Elizabethan England, c.1568–1603: Burghley’s Almshouses
• Restoration England, 1660–1685: Drury Lane Theatre

Transform your teaching through examining

Whether you're looking to enhance your CPD, gain a fresh perspective on assessment or bring new ideas and insights back to the classroom, examining can have a lasting impact on your teaching and career. By seeing real student responses from across the country and understanding how marks are gained and lost, you'll develop valuable insights that can help you prepare learners more effectively, while building your professional credibility and experience.

Apply to become an examiner today or join one of our free online taster events to discover what the role involves and hear from experienced examiners.