Teaching History in a Neoliberal Age - Policy, Agency and Teacher Voice

This book explores changing practice in history classrooms from the autonomy of the 1980s through the introduction of GCSEs and the National Curriculum to the prescription of the National Strategies and the pervasive influence of league tables in the first decade of the twenty-first century. It uses individual narratives from history teachers to shed light on a changing profession.

Showcasing research that is crucial reading for leaders in education, it uses oral accounts from 13 experienced teachers to provide a rich testimony of the constraints and affordances acting on history teachers. The book offers a unique perspective to show how teachers experienced steady but substantial changes in policy and autonomy and how this affected their practice; this detail enhances an analysis of policy and curricular documents across three decades. The findings are crucial for educational settings today, facing crises of teacher recruitment and teacher retention.

This book will be of great interest to academics and higher degree research students in history education, history of education and education policy. It will also be of interest to beginning history teachers and senior school leaders responsible for teacher development and curriculum.

List of contents

List of tables

Acknowledgements

List of abbreviations

Introduction



Chapter 1 Debating history education



Chapter 2 Exploring teacher voice



Chapter 3 The historical and global context



Chapter 4 Freedom and choice 1985 to 1990

Chapter 5 Enacting the National Curriculum 1991 to 2011



Chapter 6 Enacting policies beyond the National Curriculum 1991 to 2011



Chapter 7 Collaboration, textbooks and technology 1985 to 2011



Chapter 8 Conclusions

About the author

Mary Woolley is Senior Lecturer in Education at Canterbury Christ Church University.

Summary

This book explored changing practice in history classrooms from the autonomy of the 1980s through the introduction of GCSEs and the National Curriculum to the prescription of the National Strategies and the pervasive influence of league tables in the first decade of the 21st century.

Product details

• Authors: Mary Woolley, Mary (Canterbury Christ Church University Woolley, Mary (Canterbury Christ Church University) Woolley, Woolley Mary
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.06.2021
• EAN: 9781032089867
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3208986-7
• No. of pages: 212
• Series: Routledge Research in Education Policy and Politics
• Subjects: Guides > Self-help, everyday life > Family; Humanities, art, music > Education > Education system; EDUCATION / Administration / General, EDUCATION / Educational Policy & Reform / General, EDUCATION / Philosophy, Theory & Social Aspects, Organization & management of education, Educational administration and organization, Philosophy & theory of education, Educational strategies & policy, Philosophy and theory of education, Educational strategies and policy