David Gunn

Thanks so much. It really is frustrating - the fact that the specimen papers aren't there is just bizarre!

#historyteacher

If anyone could send over a full past paper, it would be most appreciated. I've tried AQA but not had any luck.

A long shot but are there any history teacher colleagues who teach AQA A Level History option 1K (USA 1865-1975) who have access to full past papers (ie a scanned physical paper). All the papers online have at least one interpretation redacted for copyright reasons.

About Time is the Children’s Book Watch-Collecting Parents Have Been Asking For British Watchmaker Rebecca Struthers and science teacher and children’s book author Alom Shaha are about to break the watch industry internet with the introduction of their co-written children’s book,...

It’s been really interesting and exciting to see how enthusiastic people in the world of horology are about my new book, co-authored by watchmaker Rebecca Struthers - “About Time… is going to scratch the itch of every watch enthusiast parent”. I hope the author of this piece it right!

Had a brilliant day @edbookfest.bsky.social - Laurent Binet this afternoon and Richard Flanagan this evening. Inspirational words from both.

Exam Nation School should equip children for adulthood. In reality, it means one thing: exams. Exam Nation sets out a better way – and, crucially, shows us how we might get there. Educationalist and Head of Scho...

Out today - please buy/share/review, and above all read. I’m so proud of this book and the impact it’s had - and still a bit surprised at the places it’s taken me too over the last year.

www.penguin.co.uk/books/454163...

The big dig

Greatly enjoyed 'The Big Dig' from @londonmuseum.bsky.social Docklands with my kids (5 and 10) this week - finding some Roman artefacts to help uncover 'layers of London'.
Recommended for a great summer holiday activity! www.londonmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/the...

That sounds great! I think a common issue students often have is thinking 'everyone in the past was stupid', which is important to challenge. The history of science really helps dispel this - I've taught the Royal Society as part of A Level History for a while now and it's absolutely fascinating.

Brilliant... anything at the intersection of history and science always goes down well in our family!

Cover of a book called "About Time": On the left, a drawing of a man in a purple shirt and blue trousers looking through a telescope. On the right, a drawing of a woman in a peach coloured shirt and grey trousers looking at a pocket watch, she is wearing a jewellers loupe over one eye. They are both standing on the face of a clock in the middle of which are the words "About Time". The "o" of about is the centre of the clock, where the hands are attached, telling the time 12:38

A few years ago, I met the incredibly talented Dr Rebecca Struthers - the UK's only watchmaker with a PhD in horology. We immediately hit it off and became friends... and then wrote this book together. Out in August, available to preorder now! geni.us/AboutTimeDK

This looks great, Alom! Looking forward to it.

David's fundraiser for TRIBE Freedom Foundation Help David Gunn raise money to support TRIBE Freedom Foundation

In May I'll be running the Hackney Half for the Tribe Freedom Foundation, which is a charity set up to fight human trafficking. Any donations would be very much appreciated!

www.justgiving.com/page/david-g...

#OTD in 1653, Oliver Cromwell dissolved the Rump Parliament.

Cromwell called in the musketeers, forcefully ejecting MPs after the Rump refused to dissolve itself. But this was not the only time force was used against Parliament...

YouTube video by Mr Gunn History The three golden rules of A Level History exam technique

Had a brilliant time last week leading a workshop for Sixth Form students on A Level History exam technique.

It gave me the idea for 'three golden rules', which I cover in my latest video;
youtu.be/kZYtb76mqR0

A quick note on A Thousand Blows, Black boxers in 1880s London, and ‘woke history’ Ching Hook (Hezekiah Moscow), Alec Munroe, Jem Haines, Jack Davenport, Albert Pearce, ‘Meat Market Charlie’ Bartlett, Violet and Rosaline Mills, Jack Watson, J. Oliver, Tom Tully, Felix Scott, Char…

Wrote a blog about how racists who only like white men telly keep saying 'over-representative'. My argument: ATB only has a few Black characters and they were all real people, really there, so how can it be?

A man commented: "grossly over-representative" 🤷🏻‍♀️

grapplingwithhistory.com/2025/01/20/a...

Reading this about Britain's use of Marshall Aid, it makes me wonder if this is a particularly harsh interpretation or whether it really was squandered - does anyone have any further insight?

I had always assumed it was spent on infrastructure...

www.bbc.co.uk/history/brit...

David's fundraiser for TRIBE Freedom Foundation Help David Gunn raise money to support TRIBE Freedom Foundation

In May I'll be running the Hackney Half for the Tribe Freedom Foundation, which is a charity set up to fight human trafficking. Any donations would be very much appreciated!

www.justgiving.com/page/david-g...

My choices (depending on exactly where I was) would be;
Mildreds, Pizza Pilgrims, Franco Manca or Dishoom (if you really want a treat).

Mr Shaha’s Marvellous Machines Hello! This is where I’ll be putting links to FREE resources to accompany my book Mr Shaha’s Marvellous Machines, including videos of the activities and any templates or other informati…

Primary Teachers! If you want to do some “making” activities with your pupils before Christmas, take a look at these videos of TOYS they can make from scrap materials: alomshaha.com/machines

We also lived in London for a long time, so it was great to recognise the place names. I forgot to add but my son actually went as Adam for World Book Day as his school and showed the book to the class. Thanks again for the response, he will be thrilled!

Thanks so much for the reply - I can't wait to show my son! I thought the alternative history was fascinating and the way empire, class, ethnicity and migration were depicted was really well done. It led to really interesting conversations about all of the above.

My son and I absolutely loved Tyger, so would be incredibly happy with any of the others!

BOOK GIVEAWAY!!! I'm not on social media a lot right now, working very hard on my new book, trying to get it done in less than 9 years this time! In the meantime, I'm giving away signed copies of all my books so far. Repost & follow to enter, & say which one you'd like - closes Dec 14! #KidLitUK

Greatly enjoying the audiobook of The Scapegoat by Lucy Hughes-Hallett - listening on my commute and am completely engrossed. Buckingham is such a fascinating character and the writing is excellent. I'm definitely going to use the refrain 'no money' in my teaching.

Down in London last week to lead a course for Hodder - snapped this around the Barbican while looking for Jackson Lamb. He was nowhere to be found.

So good to find lots of #historyteacher folks here!