Interview with Michael Riley, 22 September 2009

Abstract

Michael Riley is a teacher trainer and currently (2011) Director of the Schools History Project. After an early teaching experience in Tanzania with VSO, he taught in schools in England becoming a schools advisor for Somerset. He has published several history textbooks. He was a member of the Dearing Review Working Group of 1994-5, which sought to reduce the burden of the first National Curriculum's history content on teachers. He discusses the process by which the NC was revised, noting the views of other key players - Chris Woodhead, the Minister John Patten and Chris McGovern (his interview is on this website). Michael Riley discusses the impact of more recent changes to the history curriculum in schools, in particular the concepts of diversity and Britishness. Interviewed by Nicola Sheldon