David Nicholls summarises some of the problems facing history education and offers a commentary on various cases for reform. He argues that we need to look at provision holistically from 5 to 21 and urges collaboration across phases and sectors. By working more closely together, the history community as a whole – academic historians, school history teachers, history education academics, the heritage sector—could also do more to trumpet the value of an historical education to those who misunderstand its essential educative role. Such collaboration is essential if we are to ensure that the history community is able to set its own agenda and to influence government initiated reform.