Collaborating with schools: challenges and opportunities for oral historians

Collaboration with schools represents an important way to engage young learners with the practical uses of oral testimony. This article considers the challenges and opportunities for oral historians considering such collaborative work, based on the experience of the Scottish Oral History Centre in working with Springburn Academy. It is suggested that, despite challenges, an oral history project can increase the confidence and attainment of the pupils involved, outlining the practical aspects of a project which appeared to facilitate these positive outcomes, aiming to promote dialogue across the oral history community.