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So it’s time to write or update the history of your school?

This is a very important milestone, and like all special celebrations, needs to be done with an enduring excellence. The next moment a history will be written may be 25, even 50 years in the future. It is important to get it right.

At Renew Education our school histories are guided by four principles.:

  • Rigorous, but easy to read
  • Detailed, but widely appealing
  • Truthful, but reputationally careful
  • Immediately relevant, but able to stand the test of time

Why Commission a professional historian?

Writing a good history is a highly technical skill. The finished work needs to appeal to a general audience, but also rigorous enough to endure long into the future. Professional education historians possess doctorates in history and education, have been published in peer-reviewed works, and worked at university level. It is also crucial that the historian is also an accomplished writer for a general audience.

How much does it cost?

This depends, as each history is different. Some questions influencing cost and timing are:

  • Is it an update of an existing history, or writing from scratch?
  • How old is the school?
  • Does the school have an existing archive?
  • How many interviews are needed?
  • Who takes responsibility for final publication?

In general terms, there is either a fixed cost for the entire project, or a sliding scale based on finished word count.

What amount of editorial control does a school have?

Whilst the Author asserts moral rights, the school has full veto over the finished product, and also the right to regularly consult on drafts. As an academic David Hastie is of course passionate about accuracy. However, all histories need to strike a balance between facts and reputations. Early and regular consultation results in a high-quality publication that will achieve its purpose of celebrating the history of a school.

What are the next steps?

Meet for a scoping meeting to explore what the school is seeking in a school history. Then a contract is drafted, finalised, and the project commences, with monthly check ins and draft reviewing.