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The bad-tempered backstory of ‘Town Versus Gown’
2 September 20206 March 2023

The bad-tempered backstory of ‘Town Versus Gown’

Articles by Harley Richardson4 comments

The concept of ‘town versus gown’ goes all the way back to the founding of medieval universities, and has played an integral, if not always noble, role in their development.

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21st century skills – so last century!
25 June 202025 June 2020

21st century skills – so last century!

Opinion by Harley Richardson4 comments

This call for an education revolution has a longer history than many realise.

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Frances Mary Buss, the first ‘Head Mistress’
8 June 20209 May 2023

Frances Mary Buss, the first ‘Head Mistress’

Essays by Harley Richardson5 comments

A tribute to a 19th century teacher and campaigner for women’s education, who deserves to be much better known.

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Curriculum of empire, curriculum of liberation
25 May 202025 May 2020

Curriculum of empire, curriculum of liberation

Commentary by Harley Richardson0 comments

Edith Hall, author of A People’s History of Classics, was a guest on Radio 4’s Start the Week this morning

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Alcuin of York
11 May 202011 May 2020

Alcuin of York

Articles by Harley Richardson1 comment

In my view, this little known media scholar is one of the most important figures in the history of education in England, and actually in Europe. To find out why, read my tribute in Teach Secondary magazine. If that piques your curiosity, you can find out more in an edition of Radio 4’s In Our Time dedicated to the man. […]

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100 learning theorists
6 May 202012 May 2020

100 learning theorists

Resources by Harley Richardson2 comments

Donald Clark is perhaps unusual amongst edtech entrepreneurs in that he knows his education theory very well. He has distilled this knowledge into a highly readable series of short articles about 100* key educational thinkers, ranging from ancient philosophers to modern-day pedagogists and innovators. Clark outlines their main contributions to education and assesses their legacy. It’s a hugely valuable resource […]

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Why is the history of education worth knowing?
6 May 202018 May 2020

Why is the history of education worth knowing?

Articles by Harley Richardson0 comments

Understanding how schools developed in the past can help us make good decisions about how they should look now and in the future. Are you curious about the past? Are you a keen reader? If the answer to both these questions is yes, you’re in luck. There are history books available about pretty much every aspect of human life over […]

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Schools through the ages: an illustrated history
4 May 202014 May 2020

Schools through the ages: an illustrated history

Talks by Harley Richardson0 comments

Tuesday 12th May, 8-9pm BST As a lockdown experiment, I’m giving an online version of my introduction to the history of education. 1500 years in 40 minutes, covering the evolution of schools in England from the first grammar school to the beginnings of the state system. It will explain the profound impact that events such as the Black Death, the […]

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