We think it is really important to understand previous policies – how they worked, what went well and what challenges they faced. This is essential to help us to build on and adapt the best ideas from the past, and to avoid repeatedly falling into the same traps. We are publishing a series of reports to inform this work – some look back at a single policy from the past to understand what lessons can be learned, while others, such as Honourable Histories, look back across several decades of policy to see emerging patterns and trends.
Our Latest Report
A Subject in Search of A Purpose: The Evolving Identity of Design and Technology Education
The story of design and technology (D&T) education in England is one of continuous adaptation, reflecting broader societal, economic and technological changes. From its roots in early technical, manual and domestic education to its current role preparing all students to design and respond to a changing technological society, D&T has undergone significant transformations. The evolution of D&T mirrors broader educational debates: the balance between vocational and general education, the challenge of defining 'technology' in an educational context, and the struggle for status within the curriculum. It also reflects societal shifts, from the gender-specific nature of early education to today's push for a more inclusive approach.
Individual Policy Reviews
We consider understanding previous policies, how they worked, what went well, and what challenges they faced, essential to developing and delivering good policy. Each of our Learning from the Past reviews focuses on a specific historical policy. They identify these policy’s guiding principles, building on and adapting the best ideas from the past to avoid repeating mistakes within policy formation in the future.
Thematic Reports
Our thematic reports take a broader perspective, reviewing the historical evolution and policy landscape of Further Education (FE) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) in the UK. By reviewing how different national priorities around employment and the economy, the balance between general education and specialist training, and the attitudes and aspirations of students and teachers, they inform our understanding of the system today and what direction good policy might take.
We have also collated and commissioned a range of other important reports and resources that reflect on policy history – you can access these below: