The Future of history in our schools

Whether you have children or not, whether you're a teacher or not, if you have a love of History this debate matters to you.

The media and politicians like nothing better than to comment on what children do or do not know - and History gets it in the neck nearly every time. Is it the schools fault; is it the teachers fault; is it the curriculum's fault?

Research shows that History is one of the subjects being squeezed and reduced in the curriculum - so it the timetable's fault?

On the 19^th July 2010 the HA organized a debate about the future of History in our schools. This debate brought high profile speakers together in a room in front of an audience to discuss the future of History before politicians and a hand full of selected Historians get to do their rewrite. All wonderfully chaired by Professor Sir David Cannadine.

The panel included: Lord Baker, Dr Katharine Burn, Professor Anne Curry, Dr Chris Husbands and Steve Mastin.

The main issues cover: The National Curriculum, Time, pressures from head teachers and league tables, relevancy and who should be taught the history of diverse communities?

Highlights include: Steve Mastin defending Michael Gove, Lord Baker's views on what should be taught and why he wanted a National Curriculum, Anne Curry's fears around elitism, Katherine Burn's new research and Chris Husband talking about the reality of history in the classroom.