Johansen, Michelle, and Martin Spafford. “‘How Our Area Used to Be Back Then.’” (2009)

How can oral history enquiries engage students with the study of history and help them connect their learning about the past to their present lives? How can oral history engage and develop students' understanding of history as a process of knowledge construction? What scope does local historical study provide for collaborative work between school history departments, archivists, researchers and local communities? Why are local oral history enquiries particularly suited to UK new curricular arrangements at Key Stage 3 and GCSE? Michelle Johansen and Martin Spafford reflect on these and related questions through the discussion of a remarkable oral history collaboration and provide focused guidance that will help history departments develop local oral history enquiries in future. Year 10 (age 14-15) students from across the ability range assisted in creating a real and permanent record of local history. The article describes the project activities, assesses teaching, learning and social outcomes, and offers advice on running an oral history project in a secondary school.