Information for parents
History has an important part to play in your child’s education.
It is a foundation subject and an important part of the National Curriculum.
You may want to offer support - but not know where to start.
This is where Headline History can help.
Headline History has been designed to encourage primary school children (Key Stage 2, seven to 11-year-olds) to learn more about English history by mixing fun with facts.
This interactive website focuses on four key historical eras; the Romans, the Tudors, the Victorians and World War Two. It offers children the chance to read true stories about people and events through a series of virtual newspapers: The Roman Times, The Tudor Times, The Victorian Times and The War Times. The papers are full of both generic and regionally-focused stories.
Children will also be able to become virtual reporters on the newspapers – interviewing witnesses to events through videos and creating their own version of front page stories.
The Editor, a friendly, animated character, will be available to offer help and advice at each stage.
Inside, the papers include a timeline and adverts as well as stories, and pictures, some of which will be connected to film or audio clips.
On a regular basis Headline History will host hotseat chats which will involve a famous historical figure or a present-day reporter answering questions fired at them by children. Parents should note that these sessions will be fully moderated and that questions will be vetted prior to their inclusion in the chat session.
What’s more the site promotes other skills, such as considering bias which is introduced through contradictory accounts of events and encouraging children to go and carry out their own research.
Another important objective of Headline History is to encourage children to go and explore the real cultural world. We’ve included an events and venues section which we hope will inspire you to take your children to museums, libraries and other places with a connection to the site’s four historical themes.
The website is backed by Culture Online, an innovative Government initiative created to increase access to the arts through cutting-edge technical projects.
It also has the support of BECTA, an education agency set up to support information and communication technology in schools, and teachers have been involved every step of the way in the creation of this site.
Headline History has been produced by Associated Northcliffe Digital, the Internet division of the Northcliffe Newspapers Group, publishers of an extensive network of local papers and part of the Daily Mail and General Trust Group.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at theeditor@headlinehistory.co.uk
