I am a historian of modern Britain with interests in the social history of learning and learners, social movements, co-operation and everyday life. My work explores education and learning in relation to broader social, economic, cultural and political changes and inequalities, across the boundaries of history and the humanities, education and social sciences. I completed a degree and MA at Sussex University. Before embarking on an academic career, I worked in adult literacy, community publishing, voluntary organisations and co-operatives. My PhD, from Manchester University, examined working class writing and publishing since the 1970s.
I play a number of leaderhsip roles in history of education as President of the History of Education Society (UK), co-director of the International Centre for Historical Research in Education (ICHRE) and co-director of the Centre for Modern and Contemporary Britain. For eleven years I was co-editor the journals History of Education and the History of Education Researcher. I serve on a number of editorial boards and scientific committees.
