Silk purse from a sow's ear? Why knowledge matters and why the draft History NC will not improve it

Katie Hall and Christine Counsell attempt to construct a Key Stage 3 scheme of work out of the draft National Curriculum for history that was released for consultation in England in February 2013. They explain the process by which they attempted to convert the programme of study into a coherent, workable plan that would fulfil the stated aims. Drawing on a knowledgecentred perspective, they then use their planning efforts to offer their personal view on what they see as the five most serious limitations of the draft. They conclude with an argument that the deeper obstacles to building adequate historical knowledge in all students will never be removed until history is compulsory to 16...