Oxford History for NSW

Front covers of Oxford History Stages 4 & 5 for NSW

Introducing the new Oxford History for NSW Stages 4 & 5!

Available in 2026.

Oxford History for New South Wales Stages 4 & 5 (Years 7–10) is the latest junior history resource for secondary schools, fully aligned with the 2024 History syllabus. This edition also serves as a valuable companion to Key Features of Modern History NSW Stage 6.

The new series will be released in August 2026, ready for classroom implementation in 2027. It will include a suite of supporting digital resources, such as key content videos for every lesson co-developed with ClickView, interactive assessments with progress tracking and system-generated reports, module checklists, and more.

Complete curriculum alignment

Content fully updated to align to curriculum objectives and incorporate key learning design principles.
HSC ready

Explicit focus on History skills and source analysis to equip students with the understanding they need to achieve success in the senior years.
Enhanced teacher support

Oxford Digital ensures every teacher has access to best-practice pedagogy and curriculum-aligned learning resources.

Oxford History NSW 7-10 Implementation Guide

Planning for the new History 7–10 Syllabus in 2027?

Oxford’s Implementation Guide for the History 7–10 Syllabus (2024) is designed to make teaching easier—saving you time, enhancing student engagement, and supporting diverse learners.

It provides a clear, practical breakdown of what’s new, what’s changed, and what’s been reorganised.

Inside, you’ll find:

An overview of the key changes to the syllabus
Insight into how the content is evolving
In-depth explanations of historical context and core studies

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Oxford Humanities has a new digital teaching experience!

Oxford Digital has been updated to improve usability and accessibility. Engage students of all abilities and save time on planning and delivering lessons.

An accessible, web-based learning experience to support students of all abilities

Full resource libraries mapped to course and curriculum outcomes

Hundreds of videos, interactives, quizzes, and assessments

Supports every teacher to save time and drive engagement with interactive Lesson Plans and Live Lesson mode

Request a demo

Bernie Howitt started teaching in 1976 and has taught all high school History subjects and stages. He’s written a wide range of textbooks, from Rock Through History (1989) to the new Oxford History Stages 4 & 5 (2026), and History syllabuses at state and national levels. Bernie also lectured in Education at the University of NSW for 15 years, received two NSW Premier’s History Scholarships, was President of HTANSW, pioneered the use of rock music to support history teaching, and received an Honorary Doctorate from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland after three years of lecturing there.

Rachael Riley is a History educator and Instructional Lead at Redlands, with over a decade of classroom experience. She was named Secondary School Teacher of the Year Non Government at the Australian Education Awards and is a recipient of the Premier’s History Teachers Association Scholarship and the Redlands Early Career Teacher Award.

A formative school trip to East Arnhem Land shaped Rachael’s approach to teaching and learning. Learning alongside the Yolngu people, and being trusted with their stories, prompted deeper reflection on education, identity and Australia’s history. Returning regularly, Rachael has developed strong partnerships with the Yolngu community, supporting the respectful integration of First Nations perspectives across curriculum and school life. The work she has contributed to Oxford History series reflects her ongoing commitment to Truth Telling in schools and informs her curriculum writing.

Alexandra Neave has been a History Teacher at St George Girls High School in Sydney for the past 7 years. She has previously developed teaching resources for Oxford publications including Antiquity I & II, Key Features of Modern History I & II and a range of junior history texts including Oxford Insight History for NSW Year 10 Second Edition. Alex has thoroughly enjoyed co-authoring the new Oxford History Stages 4 & 5 (Years 7-10) series.

Mark Anderson is a Senior History Teacher with over a decade of teaching experience. Throughout his career, he has served as both a Modern and Ancient History teacher, HSC Marker, Head of Department, and Head of Senior School. Mark holds a Masters in Educational Leadership from UNSW.

Mark is passionate about creating learning environments where young people feel genuinely cared for and valued. He believes that history education serves as a vital portal to empathetic engagement with the world, equipping students with the critical thinking skills and historical perspective needed to understand and address complex global challenges.

Samantha Rae is the current Head of History at Brigidine College St Ives and has been working at Brigidine College for the past thirteen years.

Samantha has a passion for Ancient History and her work has focused on the renewal of the subject within her school. Achieving both a Master’s of History and Master’s of Educational Leadership, Samantha looks to inspire her staff through transformational leadership, emphasising explicit teaching and critical thinking in her students.

Carla Killen has been teaching History for over 15 years. Her main areas of interest include Australians at War and teaching Modern History, specifically Cold War history. She has previously written differentiated programs for Oxford University Press for History and enjoys developing programs that allow for experiential learning.