The Gove Legacy in the Curriculum: The Case of History

Abstract

In determining the legacy of the Coalition Government Burn argues that the picture of history within the curriculum, as it is prescribed and enacted, is much more nuanced than it might at first appear. The chapter explores the range of curriculum changes set in motion by Michael Gove as Secretary of State for Education, from the National Curriculum to GCSE and A-level reform, weighing up the gains acknowledged by many within the history education against the opportunities squandered and the fears raised by the sheer range of their demands. The chapter concludes with a stark warning about the impact of the Coalition's policies on the professional education of those who will take on the task of enacting the revised curricula - newly qualified history teachers.