Join us for Dr Sophie Kay's 3-week online course and learn how (and why) to plan & log your family history research. Get focussed, get organised, get results!
Ready to take your family history skills to the next level?
Join Dr Sophie Kay’s expert online course and unlock the tools, tactics and clarity you need to make real progress with your research.
3 x 90-minute live lessons (23 Sept, 30 Sept, 7 Oct)
Downloadable worksheets and exercises
Session recordings available until 7 November
Spaces are limited – course begins 23 September 2025
Three key benefits of taking this course
🧰 Practical skills
Learn practical genealogy tactics you can use again and again. Discover how to keep and use research logs – a skill that will help you stay organised, confident and productive in your genealogy work for years to come.
🧭 Clear direction
Learn how to formulate focused research questions and create structured plans so you can stop going round in circles and start making solid progress with your family tree – even when the going gets tough.
🎓 Expert guidance
Be taught by leading professional genealogist Dr Sophie Kay, known for her clear teaching style and supportive approach. With a strong grounding in theory and practice, Sophie will equip you with the skills to dramatically improve your research success.About your family history tutor: Dr Sophie Kay
Meet your course tutor
Dr Sophie Kay is a professional genealogist, writer and educator known for her thoughtful, empowering approach to family history education. With a background in scientific research and a special interest in the intersection between data, archives and storytelling, Sophie brings a unique blend of rigour and creativity to her teaching.
She is passionate about helping people build the skills they need to make their own discoveries and feel more confident as researchers. Sophie has delivered talks and workshops across the UK and beyond, and her courses are known for their clarity, friendliness and hands-on support.
Spaces are limited – course begins 23 September 2025
How this new online genealogy course will help you…
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed or unsure how to move forward with your family history research, you’re not alone.
Whether you’re drowning in unorganised notes or unsure how to take the next step beyond a record hint, it’s easy to lose momentum. But the good news is: with a little structure and planning, you can turn confusion into clarity – and start making genuine, lasting progress with your family tree.
That’s where our brand new three-week online course comes in.
Taught by professional genealogist and experienced educator Dr Sophie Kay, this friendly and practical course is designed to help you build essential research skills that will benefit you time and again.
What will you learn?
You’ll learn how to stay organised, focused and methodical in your research – so you can spend less time feeling stuck, and more time making exciting discoveries.
Why take this course?
This course is for you if:
- You’re new to family history and want to learn how to research in a more structured and productive way
- You’ve been doing genealogy for a while but often feel overwhelmed or unsure how to break through brick walls
- You’re keen to sharpen your skills
- You want to get into good research habits
- You want to learn from an expert who knows how to make complex ideas easy to understand
The course content will be suitable for family history researchers that are new to the world of genealogy, and to those who have many years’ experience but would like to learn how to become well-organised, thorough and – ultimately – make the best possible use of their family history research time.
By the end of the course, you’ll feel more in control of your research, with a toolkit of skills you can return to again and again.
📘 'Master Your Family Tree Research' course content
Each week of the course focuses on one essential research skill, with practical exercises and real-life examples to help you put what you’ve learned into practice.
🗂️ Week 1 – How to keep a research log (Every vessel needs a ship’s log)
In this first session, we’ll explore the use of research logs – a powerful but often overlooked tool in the genealogist’s toolkit. You’ll learn:
- What a research log is and why it’s so important
- How it helps you track your searches and avoid repeating work
- How to use a log to analyse what’s working and spot where to go next
- Practical examples of logs in action
YOUR PROGRESS: Whether you prefer paper or digital tools, you’ll come away with a method that works for you – and can start using it straight away.
🧭 Week 2 – How to write effective research questions (Know where you’re going)
Just like a good rudder steers a ship, a well-crafted research question steers your family history investigations in the right direction. This week, you’ll learn:
- Why research questions matter – and how they keep you on track
- What makes a good research question (with examples)
- How to write your own, step by step
- How to use your question to guide your planning and avoid digressions
YOUR PROGRESS: You’ll come away knowing how to ask better questions – and get better answers.
🗺️ Week 3 – How to create research plans (‘Navigational chart’ at the ready)
Finally, we’ll look at research plans – your navigational chart for moving forward with confidence. This session will help you:
- Understand what a research plan should include
- Learn how to map out next steps and assess what sources to target
- Plan for different outcomes and follow up effectively
- Avoid dead ends by planning with purpose
YOUR PROGRESS: By the end of the course, you’ll have drafted a real-world research plan for your own work – and be ready to put it into action.
Who is this course for?
This course is aimed at novice to intermediate family historians – but more experienced researchers are also very welcome if you’d like a refresher or a new way of looking at your research practice.
Whether you're just starting out or have years of names and dates in your files, you'll gain valuable skills and practical tools to help you keep moving forward.
How the course works
The course takes place online over three weeks (23 September, 30 September, 7 October 2025, 7.30-9pm UK time)
- Each week includes a mix of video lessons, downloadable worksheets, and exercises
- You’ll get a chance to apply each skill to your own family history work
- Following each live webinar presentation by Sophie there will also be a live Q&A session with Sophie where you can ask questions and share experiences
- All materials are available to work through at your own pace; all presentations and Q&A sessions will be recorded
- You’ll have continued access to the materials after the course ends: all handouts and worksheets are downloadable; all video recordings will be available to customers until 7 November 2025.
📝 How to book your place
Booking is now open!
Spaces are limited – course begins 23 September 2025
If you have any questions about the course, please email us: [email protected]
We'll see you there!
We are delighted to have interviewed Dr Sophie Kay about the importance of genealogy methodology and, in particular, the invaluable roles that the use of research logs, plans and questions can play in increasing our chances of family history success. You are welcome to download it here.
