Interview with Estelle Morris, 19 October 2009

Baroness Morris of Yardley was Secretary of State for Education from June 2001 until October 2002. She was also Schools Minister under David Blunkett (interview on this website). She recalls her own experience of being taught history and of teaching it as part of 'social studies' in the 1970s. Estelle Morris discusses the reasons why history might be losing out to other subjects, such as citizenship or media studies and the reasons why history should be optional after age 14. She agrees that history is important for national identity although it should reflect the diversity of modern Britain. Interviewed by Nicola Sheldon.