What's Happening in Birmingham, England…

A seminar on comprehensive education, titled ‘Testaments of Change?’ will be held at The University of Birmingham next month.

This event is a combined book launch with a presentation by two academics who themselves experienced the comprehensive education system. They will reflect on and endeavour to relate those experiences to the much bigger agenda of reform, reaction and staggered development from the late 1950s.

Bernard Barker was educated at a comprehensive school and was the first person to become the head of a comprehensive and a Professor of Education.

Meanwhile, Jane Martin studied history at a Hertfordshire comprehensive school with Bernard, and is a Professor of Education and a previous President of the History of Education Society. Martin is the official biographer of Caroline Benn, a campaigner for comprehensive schools.

There will be three five minute presentations. The first is titled ‘The Broader Context’ and will focus on the pressures that led to the comprehensive reorganisation; the slowness of its introduction, the ground-up approach adopted and the reaction to it.

The second talk will be ‘Personal Testimony’ and will look at what was it like at Sir Frederic Osborn and Eltham Green schools, one a merger; the other purpose-built. Finally, the third talk discusses the implications of a mass education system towards liberal individualism.

Entry is free and flyer printing can be used to advertise events such as this.

This seminar will take place between 5pm and 6:30pm on Thursday 24th October at the University of Birmingham.