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Who’s Who

Project Director

Dan Lyndon-Cohen was appointed as SHP Director in July 2023. With thirty years in the History classroom, he brings a wealth of experience to the post drawing on his roles as a Lead Practitioner, exam constructor, textbook writer and consultant.


Regional Advisers

The Schools History Project has, for a number of years, had Regional Advisers whose role is to promote the work of the organisation and support teachers in their region, particularly those teaching the OCR History B course. They are the first point of contact for teachers, share advice and resources and help teachers find other sources of support.

Currently, we have vacancies in the South West, Yorkshire and Humberside and London. If you are a talented and creative history teacher, who teaches the OCR History B GCSE course and are interested in helping shape the work of SHP, gaining experience outside of your usual roles and playing a part in developing the history-teaching community, we’d like to hear from you.

You don’t need to ‘have all the answers’ but a passion for history and history teaching, a willingness to share you ideas and a commitment to the principles of SHP. In return for your work, we are pleased to offer you free access to SHP events and some OCR training materials.

You can find out how to apply for a position here.

Alex Ford – Yorkshire/Humberside Adviser

afI was Head of History at two large comprehensive schools in Yorkshire and am now the Lead Tutor and Senior Lecturer on the Leeds Trinity University PGCE course. I have presented workshops on assessment and life after levels at a number of conferences and events, including the SHP summer conference. I have produced assessment packs for the ‘Making Sense of History’ SHP textbook series, and am currently writing the ‘Making of America 1789-1900’ textbook for the upcoming OCR SHP GCSE. I am very excited to be part of bringing the SHP vision to a whole new generation of students.

Contact Alex – apf102@googlemail.com

Nicola Barthorpe – North West Adviser

nbI am currently Head of History and Classical Civilisation at Holy Cross College. I have been teaching for thirteen years and in that time have worked across Key stages 3, 4 and 5. I also mark with various exam boards for both GCSE and A level. Throughout my career, my focus has always been creating lively and engaging History lessons across all levels, and this is where my love of SHP started, as it allows the learner to explore the past in a way that enthuses students and allows them to see its relevance in modern day society. I also regularly work with trainee teachers and facilitate teaching and learning CPD. I am glad to be a part of the SHP family.

Contact Nicola – nicolabarthorpe@gmail.com


Lesley Ann McDermott – North East Adviser

lamI’m an accredited SSAT Lead Practitioner and have taught History in schools across the North-East since 1997. I have over 10 years’ experience leading History in two comprehensive schools and other previous roles include Study Support, Literacy & G&T Coordinator.  I was a GCSE Examiner for AQA. I have presented CPD for Philip Allan Hodder Education on GCSE History teaching and ran workshops at the SHP History Conference.  I love sharing creative teaching ideas.  I am excited to be part of the SHP family.

Contact Lesley Ann – lesleyann75@hotmail.co.uk

Shaun McKenzie – West Midlands Adviser

I am Head of Humanities at Four Dwellings Academy in Birmingham. I have been teaching SHP for more than 10 years. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and finally decided I wanted to share ideas and experiences with my fellow hard working history teachers. As a regional adviser I would like to encourage greater collaboration and exchange of opinions as well as stimulate discussion about the future direction of SHP and history education.

Contact Shaun – superlatics@outlook.com


Sally Burnham – East Midlands Adviser

SallyBurnhamI am a History teacher at Carre’s Grammar School in Sleaford. I am also an Advanced Skills Teacher and have been Head of History in two comprehensive schools. I have taught SHP for many years and I regularly run workshops at the SHP conference. I have written Dynamic Learning materials for Key Stage 3 and 4 and have recently been involved in the SHP A Level series. I am looking forward to working with teachers on the new SHP GCSE.

Contact Sally – salburnham@yahoo.co.uk


Luke Mayhew – East of England Adviser

lmI am head of history at Dereham Neatherd High School, Norfolk. I have been teaching for 11 years, and have taught SHP GCSE for most of that time. I have presented at SHP on several occasions and would encourage others to do the same; sharing good practice is so important! I am particularly interested in trying to get pupils to connect with the rich and wonderful history that is around them. I am extremely excited to be taking up this role and would like to support colleagues in the East in any way that I can.

Contact Luke – l.mayhew@ormistonvictory.co.uk


Stuart Farley – South East Adviser

I am Head of History at Upper Shirley High School in Southampton, where we are enjoying teaching the new OCR SHP B specification. The diverse topics, strong enquiry focus, local case studies and interpretations really engage our students. I am also a Lead Teacher on the Hampshire History Steering Group. In this role, I’m lucky enough to work with outstanding History teachers from across the county and have presented many workshops, network presentations and articles to share best practice. Since my PGCE with Michael, my teaching has been heavily influenced and inspired by the SHP principles. It’s a great privilege to be part of SHP’s team of regional advisers and to support teachers in the south east region.

Contact Stuart – stuart.farley@ushschool.org


Ginny Harris – South West Adviser

Currently Head of History at The Stonehenge School, I have been teaching History for over 20 years, I enjoy creating lively and exciting history lessons, full of the stories that our subject provides.  I have taught SHP GCSE in its various guises over the last decade and wholly endorse the principles of enquiry and local history.  A passionate reader, I have worked really hard on promoting reading within my subject with author visits and a reading club.  It is a great privilege to be part of the SHP team of regional advisors and support teachers here in the South West.

Contact Ginny – HarrisG@Stonehenge.wilts.sch.uk>


SHP Fellows

The role of the Fellows within SHP is to act as critical friends, providing advice, guidance and support to the director, to advance SHP’s principles and work. The Fellows meet typically twice a year.

The Schools History Project is looking for new Fellows to help guide its work and shape its future. If you are interested in learning more about the role and the opportunities it provides please contact the Director at d.lyndon-cohen@leedstrinity.ac.uk

Katharine Burn

I am an Associate Professor of History Education at the University of Oxford where I teach on the PGCE history programme and supervise history teachers undertaking school-based research as part of a part-time Master’s in Learning and Teaching. As a former Head of History/Humanities in two different schools, I relished teaching SHP specifications and the SHP principles continue to underpin my approach to history teaching. My own research is mainly concerned with teachers’ professional learning and the most effective ways to support it. I have presented regularly at SHP conferences and my publications include The Guided Reader to Learning and Teaching History and MasterClass in History Education. I am also Deputy President of the Historical Association – for which I co-direct an annual survey of history teaching in England – and I am one of the co-editors of its professional journal Teaching History.

Sally Burnham

SallyBurnhamI am a History teacher at Carre’s Grammar School in Sleaford. I am also an Advanced Skills Teacher and have been Head of History in two comprehensive schools. I have taught SHP for many years and I regularly run workshops at the SHP conference. I have written Dynamic Learning materials for Key Stage 3 and 4 and have recently been involved in the SHP A Level series.

Alex Ford

afI was Head of History at two large comprehensive schools in Yorkshire and am now the Lead Tutor and Senior Lecturer on the Leeds Trinity University PGCE course. I have presented workshops on assessment and life after levels at a number of conferences and events, including the SHP summer conference. I have produced assessment packs for the ‘Making Sense of History’ SHP textbook series, and am currently writing the ‘Making of America 1789-1900’ textbook for the upcoming OCR SHP GCSE. I am very excited to be part of bringing the SHP vision to a whole new generation of students.

Penelope Harnett

PHI am Emerita Professor of Education at the University of the West of England, Bristol and was delighted to be asked to become a Primary Fellow for the SHP in 2015. The SHP core principles have influenced my work over many years.

Most of my career has been training primary school teachers with a particular focus on history and humanities education. I have written history books for pupils and published a wide range of  guidance on teaching history for primary teachers. I am a former editor of the Historical Association’s journal Primary History and as an Honorary Fellow of the HA have contributed regularly to its website and conferences.

My research has focused on young children’s historical understanding and recent papers can be found in Writing History 7-11, and Teaching History Creatively, both edited by Hilary Cooper; the Journal of Curriculum Studies (2014) The understanding of historical time in the primary history curriculum in England and the Netherlands, with M.J. De Groot-Reuvekamp, Carla Van Boxtel, Anje Ros & Penelope Harnett  and a recent Council of Europe’s project, Shared Histories for a Europe without  Dividing Lines. 

Sally Thorne

sallythorne2015I have been teaching History since 2003 and am currently Head of Humanities at Colston’s Girls’ School, Bristol. I am a senior examiner and author: I have worked on GCSE content for GCSEPod, Hodder and Pearson, and presented student and teacher workshops for Keynote and Philip Allan. I have presented workshops at several SHP summer conferences and try to embed the principles across my teaching. I trained to teach using the enquiry method and this has stuck with me ever since!

SHP Honorary Fellows and former Directors

SHP is also supported by a number of honorary fellows and former directors who offer their considerable collected wisdom when pertinent. These are Matt Stanford, Michael Riley, Chris Culpin, Donald Cumming, Jo Philpott, Dale Banham, Jamie Byrom, Ian Dawson, Angela Leonard, Kate Moorse, Jane Richardson and Martin Spafford.