About the authors

Dr Christine Counsell OBE taught and held leadership roles in state schools before becoming local authority adviser for primary and secondary history. She subsequently led the history PGCE course at the University of Cambridge for 19 years, where she received the University’s Pilkington Prize for outstanding teaching. Meanwhile, Christine has worked nationally and internationally with policy makers, scholars, teachers and teacher educators. She has frequently advised Ofsted and DfE, led training for the Ministry of Education in Singapore, and developed particular expertise in the teaching of history in post-conflict zones, notably in Cyprus and Lebanon.

Christine later became Director of Education of a multi-academy trust serving schools in areas of disadvantage. Editor of the journal, Teaching History, Christine has published widely, including numerous curriculum resources. She has held advisory, governance and trustee roles for public service bodies, currently serving as Trustee of David Ross Education Trust. In 2025, Christine served on a Flemish government commission overseeing a major curriculum reform to introduce knowledge-rich learning in all Flanders schools.

In June 2025, in the King’s Birthday Honours, Christine was made Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to education. In July 2025, the Historical Association awarded her its Medlicott Medal for services to history. Since October 2025, Christine has been chairing the Curriculum Taskforce that will oversee the introduction of a new curriculum in all subjects across Northern Ireland schools.

Steve Mastin worked for 20 years in state schools across England, as a history teacher, then a head of history, and as a senior curriculum specialist across primary and secondary schools in a multi-academy trust. Steve has helped train teachers for the University of Cambridge and has led training for international Ministries of Education including Singapore, the UAE and Egypt. Steve has been an examiner with a leading UK exam board for both ancient and modern history. He has advised the Department for Education on the history curriculum, assessment and exam reform. He also works closely with Classics for All to encourage more state schools to teach the history and languages of the ancient world.

Steve spent seven years leading curriculum design, implementation and teacher training in Kazakhstan, helping them to broaden their curriculum and balance national and world history. He has recently advised the governments of Flanders and New Zealand around the design and roll-out of a knowledge-rich curriculum. Steve delivers annual historical and cultural lectures in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva (Uzbekistan), Pompeii and Herculaneum (Italy).

Steve was awarded a Fellowship of the Historical Association and has served on both the secondary and primary committees. He serves as a trustee on the board of the HA. Steve was invited to join the Worshipful Company of Educators, a charity serving the education profession. In addition, he is a trustee of the Jean Grove Trust, supporting Ethiopian schools, and also serves as the education adviser to the Renaissance Foundation, a charity working with young carers in England.