ABSTRACT

Originally published in 1993. "A Lesson for Us All" tells of the intrigue and pressures that surrounded the introduction of the National Curriculum, the most sweeping educational reform since 1944, and examines the roles of three education secretaries: Kenneth Baker, John MacGregor and Kenneth Clarke. Duncan Graham was the man charged with introducing the new-style lessons into the 24,000 state schools in England and Wales from 1988 to 1991 when he resigned as Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Curriculum Council after deep divisions over principles with Kenneth Clarke, the Education Secretary. In collaboration with David Tytler, former Education Editor of "The Times", Mr Graham tells of the struggles with ministers, civil servants and the teacher unions to introduce the new style lessons to a tight timetable set by the Government.

chapter 1|11 pages

Birth of a Revolution

chapter 2|11 pages

The Civil Servants Descend

chapter 3|21 pages

When Two and Two Didnt make Four

chapter 4|9 pages

A Question of Grammar

chapter 5|9 pages

A Real Revolution?

chapter 6|13 pages

A Time and a Place for Everything

chapter 7|8 pages

A Merry Dance

chapter 8|12 pages

The Nightmare of Key Stage 4

chapter 9|14 pages

NCC Begins to Crumble

chapter 10|7 pages

The Time to Leave

chapter 11|18 pages

The Lessons of Change

chapter 12|16 pages

Under New Management