ABSTRACT
In 1996 a series of lectures was held at the University of Oxford, subsequently published under the title Affirming the Comprehensive Ideal (Pring and Walford 1997). At that time, following seventeen years of Conservative government, many were strongly concerned about the politically charged attack that was being made upon the school system attended by 85 per cent of secondary school students. The ideals of that system, its considerable achievements and the daily success of many teachers were being ignored and negated. In a period just before a general election was expected, the series of lectures affirmed the moral and educational ideals which inspired the creation of a system of comprehensive schooling, and showed how those ideals might be reflected in the organisation and practice of schools and colleges in the future.
