Olive Banks' work Parity and Prestige in English Secondary Education made a major and distinctive contribution to the literature on the historical development of secondary education. Her work exemplified a close relationship between sociology and history, examined a vital and enduring theme that continues to be relevant and pervasive, helped to…

This paper, based on the author's presidential address to the History of Education Society in November 2006, explores aspects of continuity and change over the past 40 years with particular reference to educational reform and the development of the History of Education Society itself. It assesses the significance of the work of the playwright Alan…

This article presents a collection of work that grew out of an international symposium sponsored by the History of Education Society UK and held in Hamburg in 2007. The symposium aimed to contribute to understandings of different approaches to researching the extent to which education has contributed historically to social change in respect of…

Tracing the life of Sir Cyril Norwood, one of England's most prominent and influential educators, this book investigates the historical development of secondary education in England and Wales during the early twentieth century. During this time, an enduring ideal of secondary education associated with Sir Cyril Norwood became dominant. This was…

Cyril Norwood, to all appearances, was the quintessential insider of English education in the first half of the 20th century. An outstanding classical scholar, Oxford educated, a successful headmaster before returning to Oxford as president of his college, St John's, knighted for his services to education in 1938, he was also prominent in national…

Discusses three key benefits of using a comparative approach to the history of education: (1) establish detailed insight into comparisons and contrasts; (2) enhance understanding of influences and interaction; and (3) generate or inform overarching theory and general patterns. (KDR)

This paper investigates the history of the education of the middle classes with particular reference to the historical experience of the English grammar schools between 1868 and 1944. It indicates a general neglect of the history of middle-class education and an opportunity to develop this in greater depth in terms of the range and diversity of…

The dominant cultural image of veteran teachers is conveyed in the fictional life story of Mr Chipping of Brookfield School as conveyed in James Hilton's short novel "Goodbye, Mr Chips." This reflects emerging ideals and practices of teacher professionalism in England from the 1920s onwards in terms of its emphasis on autonomy and…

Reflects on the progress made in the history of education due to the decades of research as have been addressed in past issues of this journal. Focuses on the five articles in this issue as being helpful in providing an interesting range and a continuing development in education of history. (KDR)

Discusses three potential problems in the application of virtual history: (1) extrapolation; (2) critical analysis; and (3) the danger of using it as wishful thinking. Offers comparative history as a possible alternative way to overcome virtual history outcomes. (KDR)

Discusses the premise of theory, methods, and social science in relation to the history of education. States the articles in this issue demonstrate there are still current active explorations of educational history being conducted. (KDR)

Maintains that surprisingly little attention has been given to secondary modern schools by historians. Maintains that a new approach is needed to examine the impact of social differentiation in English and Welsh schools. Asserts that a more current history of secondary schools will provide new insights into British social history. (CFR)