Oral History can be a powerful method for children to experience, helping them to appreciate that History is about ordinary people as much as Kings and Queens and other significant people.

“Oral history, famously, gives a voice to the ordinary people that history brushes over, the people like you and me – and crucially, the community from which the children come.” (Claire, 2004)

It is a useful way for pupils to gather evidence for themselves, developing those historical enquiry skills. It can be used from Early Years to Year 6 though I appreciate there can be limited opportunities with the National Curriculum but whenever it would be appropriate, for example any within living memory units of work or local history, post 1066 units on the second World War or the 1960s gives opportunities for you to bring a visitor into the classroom to talk about their own experiences when they were younger, helping the children to understand what life was like before they were born.

You need to think carefully about how this is going to fit into your planning. Is there a suitable focus for someone to come and talk about? A local event, street, or school perhaps? You could choose a topic to focus on like women’s experiences or coming to Britain as a migrant for example. It would be worth contacting Local History groups (e.g., Historical Association branches), Local library, museums etc to see if there are already resources or support groups for this or for suggestions of suitable people to ask. You can also ask family, colleagues and friends or visit older peoples’ clubs or centres. Think about whether you want the children to interview the person themselves or if you are going to do this and approach the person yourself rather than by letter – you can explain what you are after more clearly and in person you are not so easily ignored! You do need to bear in mind that not everyone can cope with a class of children asking questions and some people may know a lot but not be able to put it across to children in an interesting way! It is always useful to ask for recommendations from colleagues – or use ex-teachers etc! When I was doing a project in school several years ago, I asked the interviewees to come into school to have lunch with the children before their interview. This had two advantages – I knew the person was on site so did not have to find an alternative activity if they had not turned up, and it helped the older people to chat to the children informally beforehand so they were more on the children’s ‘wavelength’ by the time the activity started.

It is always useful to do some research about the proposed focus prior to the interview so they have some understanding. You could look at old maps, newspapers or books. Prepare a list of questions with the children but don’t be too rigid – use them as a memory jogger. Ring the person a day or two before too, to confirm the arrangements, some older people may forget they had agreed to come.

Perhaps in their English lessons you could work with the children on their questioning skills, encouraging them to use straightforward language and to avoid using leading questions or giving the answer you expect in the question. Encourage the children to ask questions to set the context, time, place etc and this allows your interviewee to get talking.

Encourage the person to bring photos & artefacts with them as this will help bring their interview to life for the children. It is polite to ensure the children are on their best behaviour and send thank you letters from the children afterwards. You might find it useful to record or video the interview – but always check for permission first, not everyone will be comfortable being recorded. Give them the option of a private interview with you which is recorded if they are reluctant or are too frail to come into your classroom. 

The following resources would also be useful:

• Primary History summer resource 2021: Using historical sources
• Making the children work for the information! (Kay Topping, Primary History 76)
• Reading documents exemplar: Victorian school advertisement 

Claire, H. (2004) Oral History: A Powerful tool or a double-edged sword? In Primary History 38 pp20-23 Winter 2004 Historical Association