Plymouth expert champions history education

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Plymouth expert champions history education

Professor James Daybell sets out challenges and opportunities for the future

Plymouth expert champions history education

Professor James Daybell sets out challenges and opportunities for the future

Dave Shuttleworth

Head of Corporate Communications

Corporate Communications (Marketing and Communications)

13 May 2026

A sa��ʴ�ý research academic has been elected as President of the UK’s leading voluntary organisation that furthers the study, teaching and enjoyment of history.

The Historical Association (HA) brings together people who share an interest in and love for the past, and the society has selected the sa��ʴ�ý’s Professor James Daybell to lead them.

An expert in early modern British history, and longtime member of the HA, Professor Daybell is Associate Dean (Research) in the University’s Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business.

In the coinciding with his appointment, he has spoken about his lifelong love of history, the value it has in the modern world, and his ambitions for the association’s future.

“I think this is a really important time for history to play a very important part in the world.”

Professor Daybell cites a number of challenges facing history teachers – from the breadth of the National Curriculum, to reduced attention spans and the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence.

But a lot of it comes down to persuading young people that history is something exciting, relevant and worth learning.

When you look at the national debate around skills, how does history fit into that? What are the skills of the historian?

And I look at the kinds of jobs that people do nowadays that are data-led, or analytical, where you need technology, where you’ve got to be able to think on your feet, you’ve got to be able to present; you’ve got to be able to look at sources and analyse.

All of these are the things that kids learn at school and that teachers enhance and develop those analytical skills.

Professor James Daybell
Associate Dean (Research)

Professor Daybell’s teenage daughters are both going to be studying history at GCSE and A-Level and he says he has great faith in the UK’s history teachers.

Now his ambitions for the Historical Association include supporting and growing its membership, including nurturing the successful branch network, bringing schools together with universities, archives and other organisations in their shared love of the past.

And, as someone who believes that people still love reading, and coming together to discuss big subjects, he believes the communication of history is another priority.

“I’m someone who is passionate about history, has a lot of infectious enthusiasm, is also very pragmatic, and a team player. I roll my sleeves up.”

The Historical Association’s CEO, Rebecca Sullivan says:

“I am excited to be working with James over the next few years and seeing where we take the HA next.”

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