History boy

I’m pleased to announce the first addition to our ‘Education past’ section – the memories of Donald Naismith, former chief education officer of three pioneering  London boroughs in the Thatcher era.

Donald recalls his historical upbringing in Bradford. He takes issue with playwright Alan Bennett on his evocative play ‘The History Boys’ on grammar school sixth formers in Leeds. Naismith claims he himself owed more to the wool capital of the North than he did to Cambridge for his subsequent high-flying career in educational administration.

So make a cup of strong Yorkshire tea, sit down and immerse yourself in Donald Naismith’s reminiscences.