A WEST Belfast teacher has received recognition for her exceptional work inspiring young people and giving them a love of history. St Dominic’s History teacher Elaine McPeake has been named the Northern Ireland winner of the inaugural Inspiring History Teaching Awards. The awards, which recognise educators who bring history to life in innovative and inspiring ways, received thousands of nominations from pupils, parents and colleagues across the UK. Elaine was selected as the NI winner for her outstanding creativity in the classroom and her unwavering commitment to sparking a lifelong love of history among her students. She now goes through to the final at the Tower of London in June. Judges praised Elaine’s “real love for her subject,” noting that “her passion was infectious,” and highlighting her creativity and dedication to her pupils. With more than 20 years at St Dominic’s Grammar School, Elaine has inspired generations of young people through immersive and imaginative learning experiences. Her classroom regularly transforms into vivid scenes from the past – from Anne Frank’s bedroom and First World War trenches to Renaissance ‘Dragon’s Den’ challenges, where students pitch their new inventions in a bid to generate interest and investment. Her impact extends far beyond the classroom. In 2025, Elaine worked with pupils to create a ‘museum of childhood’, where students researched toys from different eras and collected oral histories from staff. The exhibition gained widespread attention and was later showcased at the Ulster Museum, bringing students’ work to a public audience and highlighting the power of hands-on, creative history education. Elaine also plays a leading role in extracurricular learning, running a History Club, after-school study sessions and creative workshops, as well as organising trips to significant historical sites locally and internationally. These include visits to Auschwitz as part of Holocaust studies and local landmarks such as Carrickfergus Castle, helping students connect deeply with both global and local histories.
