Overall Winner of the inaugural Inspiring History Teaching Awards announced at Tower of London ceremony hosted by Anita Rani this weekend.
Chief Judge Lucy Worsley says Hertfordshire teacher is working "some kind of special classroom magic" as her innovation and master storytelling celebrated.
Elizabeth Carr was selected from thousands of nominations across the UK for her creative, inclusive and academically rigorous approach to history teaching.
Historic Royal Palaces has named Elizabeth Carr, Assistant Principal – Curriculum and Subject Lead for Humanities at Avanti Grange Secondary School in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, as the Overall Winner of its inaugural Inspiring History Teaching Awards.
Elizabeth was selected from thousands of nominations submitted by pupils, parents and colleagues from across the UK and announced as the winner at a ceremony at the Tower of London on Saturday 20 June. Hosted by broadcaster Anita Rani, the event celebrated all ten regional and national winners recognised for making history exciting, inclusive and meaningful for young people.
Elizabeth was chosen as Overall Winner by a judging panel led by historian, broadcaster and Historic Royal Palaces Ambassador Lucy Worsley. Joining her on the panel were some of the UK's most respected historians, educators and writers: Greg Jenner, Sathnam Sanghera, Dan Jones, Shalina Patel, Katie Hunter and Michael Riley.
The Inspiring History Teaching Awards, delivered with support from the Historical Association and partners across the UK, celebrates teachers who bring the past to life in classrooms. While all ten winners were recognised for their outstanding contribution to history education, judges selected Elizabeth as the overall winner for her exceptional combination of academic rigour, creativity, inclusivity and commitment to helping young people think like historians.
Elizabeth built Avanti Grange’s history curriculum from scratch – a broad and ambitious programme that encourages curiosity, critical thinking and historical enquiry. Her vivid storytelling, sensory learning experiences and evidence-first investigations help students engage with the past while developing the skills to question, analyse and interpret history for themselves. Avanti Grange’s Deputy Principal Kath Goudie described Elizabeth as “an absolute master in creating an engaging story and then getting students to talk and think about it”, adding that “she is an innovator and always has been.”
Her lessons explore history through music, images and objects such as handling spices while studying the early British Empire. Students take part in activities ranging from curating museum displays and exploring local history databases to debating the use of AI-generated historical images. Beyond the classroom, Elizabeth organises immersive experiences including a First World War Battlefields trip, designed to explore both the human impact of conflict and its legacy.
Elizabeth's curriculum also expands her students' perspectives by exploring lesser-known and underrepresented histories. Topics include the Mali and Mongol empires, environmental history and the experiences of women, enslaved and colonised people, helping students understand the complexity of the past and the challenges historians face when interpreting it.
Alongside her work in school, Elizabeth is an author, national conference speaker and respected voice within the history education community. She has shared innovative practice with teachers across the country and led changes to assessment that support learning.
Lucy Worsley, historian, broadcaster and Chief Judge of the Inspiring History Teaching Awards, said: “Elizabeth Carr provided us with all the evidence we could possibly ask for to demonstrate her creative, inclusive, explorative, investigative and deeply committed history teaching, but to say that is not enough. She's also clearly working some kind of special classroom magic."
Speaking about all of this year's 10 regional and national winners, Lucy added: “Great history teaching doesn't involve just telling students 'what happened', it gets them to ask good questions, and to connect what they're learning to the world today. Our ten winners do this every day in their classrooms. They've been chosen for their hard work, creativity, and passion for bringing history to life. All ten are completely brilliant."
John Barnes, Chief Executive of Historic Royal Palaces, said: “History comes alive through great teaching. The stories we inherit only matter if each new generation can question, interpret and make sense of them and that is why history teachers matter so much. Across the UK, teachers are helping young people engage with the past in thoughtful, challenging and relevant ways. This year’s overall winner of the Inspiring History Teaching Awards, Elizabeth Carr, exemplifies the very best of the profession, combining creativity, commitment and real classroom impact. Congratulations, Elizabeth!"
As Overall Winner, Elizabeth receives an additional £500 cash prize and £500 for her school, a lifetime Historic Royal Palaces membership and private lunch with author Dan Jones, provided by Bloomsbury. This is in addition to the prize package awarded to the ten regional and national winners, which includes £500 for themselves, £500 for their school, annual memberships to Historic Royal Palaces and the Historical Association, access to a teacher wellbeing workshop, and the opportunity to become an HRP Teacher Champion. All winners will also receive a teacher wellbeing workshops from educator’s charity Education Support, and history books from Bloomsbury.
All ten regional and national winners were celebrated at the Tower of London before the overall winner was announced:
- Alasdair Bright, St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Newcastle (North East England)
- Alice Solomons, Sharples School, Bolton (North West England)
- Dave Slaughter, St Peter's R.C. High School, Gloucester (South West England)
- Joanna Smith, Studley High School, Warwickshire (Central England)
- Sarah-Jane Bee, Little Heath School, Reading (South East England)
- Jasmine Kaur, Centre Academy London, Battersea (London)
- Fionnuala Glover, Holy Rood RC High School, Edinburgh (Scotland)
- Elaine McPeake, St Dominic's Grammar School, Belfast (Northern Ireland)
- Shellie Brown, Cadoxton Primary School, Barry (Wales)
- Elizabeth Carr, Avanti Grange Secondary School, Bishops Stortford (Central England)
The Inspiring History Teaching Awards are an extension of Historic Royal Palaces' work to bring history to life for every child in the UK. As an independent charity, Historic Royal Palaces cares for six remarkable palaces – including the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace – and is committed to reaching every school in the UK over the next decade through visits, learning programmes, digital experiences and teacher support.
The Inspiring History Teaching Awards will return in Autumn 2027.
Notes to Editors
Imagery is available HERE.
For more information about the awards or interviews with the judging panel / HRP spokespeople, please contact Francesca Whitting in the HRP Press Office via [email protected].
About Historic Royal Palaces (HRP)
Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that loves and looks after six of the most wonderful palaces in the world. The palaces are the setting for the stories that shape us all, and we’re bringing them to people in ways that mean more to them. We want everyone to find themselves in the spaces and stories we share.
Registered charity number 1068852. For more information visit www.hrp.org.uk
About Historical Association
The Historical Association supports the study and enjoyment of history for all. For over 100 years, we’ve brought people together to explore the past, share new insights, and keep history alive and relevant. We connect teachers, students, academics, and enthusiasts through events, courses, CPD, and publications - online and in person. Our member-led community offers access to expert knowledge, inspiring speakers, and opportunities to debate and discover inspirational historical questions. As “the voice for history,” we champion its place in schools and lifelong learning, providing resources to inspire the next generation of historians.
Registered charity number 120261.
About the Association for Independent Museums
AIM (Association of Independent Museums) represents, connects and strengthens the UK’s independent museums and heritage organisations. AIM is a supportive and engaged community of over 1000 members from across the UK, offering approachable expertise and practical guidance built on almost fifty years’ experience. From the board to the front desk, AIM’s pragmatism inspires innovation, enabling members to build resilience, network and plan effectively in these challenging times.
About Cadw
Cadw is the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, our mission is to care for our historic places, inspiring current and future generations. Our vision is for a Wales where our historic places are cared for, understood and shared by everyone. Our historic places continue to play a vital role in shaping modern Wales. They provide a living link to our diverse histories and help us make sense of our place in a changing world. Cadw is a Welsh word meaning ‘to keep’ or ‘to protect’.
About Royal Collection Trust and the Palace of Holyroodhouse
Royal Collection Trust is a charity caring for the Royal Collection and welcoming visitors to the royal palaces. We bring our shared history to life through world-class experiences that involve and inspire people, wherever they are. Income from tickets and retail sales helps us to conserve the Collection so that it can be enjoyed by everyone for generations to come. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official home of His Majesty The King in Scotland. It has been a royal residence for over 500 years and has been the scene of great events across the centuries involving Robert the Bruce, Mary, Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie and Queen Victoria. A visit to the Palace provides a memorable setting for learning and unique opportunities to meet Experiences and Outcomes of Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence.
About Scottish Maritime Museum
The Scottish Maritime Museum, with sites in Irvine and Dumbarton, preserves over 300 years of Scotland’s shipbuilding legacy. It features the nation’s largest collection of historic vessels and artefacts and hosts the Scottish Boatbuilding School. The Museum offers educational programmes aligned with Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence, as well as working closely with our communities to co-produce events and workshops that promote learning, heritage, and wellbeing.
About Scottish Association for the Teaching of History
The Scottish Association of Teachers of History was created in the 1970s with the aim of providing an organisation to support history teachers and promote innovative and exciting learning in the history classroom.
From its beginning it has been a forum for Scottish History Teachers to comment on developments in education in Scotland, share new ideas and resources and provide training for history teachers through its conferences. Above all, SATH seeks to raise awareness of the importance of History within the Scottish curriculum.
About National Museums NI
National Museums NI is made up of four distinct museums that preserve, protect and promote Northern Ireland's cultural assets, knowledge and collective memory. Ulster Museum, Ulster Transport Museum, Ulster Folk Museum and Ulster American Folk Park are shared and trusted spaces to explore who we are, where we have come from and where we might we be going. Each museum offers unique, curriculum-linked learning experiences that bring history, science and art to life for over 43,000 pupils per year. Onsite and virtual workshops encourage enquiry, discussion and active learning, while providing novel and interesting ways for all kinds of learners to connect with key aspects of the NI Curriculum.
About History Teachers Association of Northern Ireland
The History Teachers’ Association of Northern Ireland (HTANI) is a member-led organisation representing history educators across Northern Ireland. Its primary aim is to safeguard and promote the vital role of history within the curriculum, while addressing the needs of both teachers and students. HTANI provides a forum for history educators to exchange ideas, share expertise, and access resources through regular events, social media engagement, and blog contributions. Working in partnership with local and national heritage bodies to develop programmes and resources that reflect the specific needs of history teachers in Northern Ireland.
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