RBD History

RBD History on Tour - Ypres and the Somme WW1 Battlefields - March 2026

A wonderful few days away in Belgium and France on a school tour. Always fascinating, always poignant.

"And I can't help but wonder, now Willie McBride,
Do all those who lie here know why they died?
Did you really believe them when they told you "The Cause?"
Did you really believe that this war would end wars?
Well the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame
The killing, the dying, it was all done in vain,
For Willie McBride, it all happened again,
And again, and again, and again, and again."

~ The Green Fields of France, Eric Bogle

Holocaust Memorial Day 2026! I have been very fortunate to have been able to visit Poland twice in the last year and visit some of the sites of the atrocities perpetrated during the Holocaust as well as learning a huge amount about Jewish culture and history. I was also extremely fortunate to meet a survivor and talk to him about his experience while in Krakow.

“I love History, but I’m rubbish with dates.”

If that sounds like something your teen has said, you’re definitely not alone.

So many GCSE and A Level students understand the stories, themes and arguments in History — but lose confidence (and marks) because they feel overwhelmed by dates, detail and exam expectations.

At RBD History Tuition, I help students:

Learn which dates actually matter (and which don’t)

Build clear timelines that support strong arguments

Feel confident using evidence without memorising endlessly

History isn’t about cramming every date — it’s about knowing how to use them effectively.

If your teen enjoys History but struggles to turn that into exam success, I’d be very happy to help.

Message me for a quick chat about GCSE or A Level History support.

Today's Revision Hack – Master Your Revision with Flashcards!

Flashcards are one of the most effective ways to boost your history revision! Here's how you can make them work for you:

📌 Create flashcards with questions on one side and answers on the other.
📌 Colour-code your cards by topic to keep things organised.
📌 Quiz yourself or a partner to reinforce key facts.

To make your flashcards even more effective, try the Leitner Method or use apps like Quizlet to create digital cards!

Flashcard Ideas for History:
Key Terms: Create cards for important words and definitions.
Causation: Use cards to outline causes of events or historical progress.
Judgments: Create cards to argue for or against quotes.
Narrative: Build cards to show the sequence of historical events.
Flashcards help reinforce active recall, making your revision far more effective than methods like highlighting or re-reading. Make them part of your routine today! 🧠

RBD History on Tour 2025 Highlight #11 - Glenfinnan Monument and Loch Shiel

This magnificent view is of Loch Shiel, which is next to the Glenfinnan Monument. It is dedicated to the Scottish Highlanders who fought in the Jacobite Army during the Jacobite rising of 1745.

RBD History on Tour 2025 Highlight #10 - Battle of Culloden

In September I visited the battlefield of Culloden, Scotland. At this battle the rascal 'Bonnie' Prince Charlie saw his army crushed and the Jacobite rebellion effectively ended for good.

RBD History on Tour 2025 Highlight #9 - Meeting Bernard Offen

While visiting the Galicia Museum in Kazimiercz (Krakow) I was incredibly privileged to meet Bernard and speak with him. Bernard is a Holocaust survivor and has written an account of his life, which I was able to buy and he was generous enough to sign for me,

Does your teen ever say things like: “I know the history, I just don’t know how to write it down!”

You’re not alone — it’s one of the most common things I hear as a tutor. So many capable students lose marks because they don’t feel confident structuring essays or linking arguments clearly.

That’s where focused tuition can make a big difference — helping students turn knowledge into strong exam answers and real results.

Message me if you’d like to have a quick chat about how I can help your teen feel ready for their summer exams.

RBD History on Tour 2025 Highlight #8 - Battle of Waterloo 210th Anniverary Re-enactment

In June I went to Waterloo to visit the battlefields and watch the largest re-enactment of the battle since the 200th anniversary in 2015.

RBD History on Tour 2025 Highlight #7 - Sharpe's Rifles

In May I led a tour group on the trail of Sharpe, the hero of Bernard Cornwell's series set around the Napoleonic Wars. I visited Spain, Portugal and Waterloo to try to find him!