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The Secret History of a School Episodes

  1. Today 09:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

    1. BeginningsSeries 1

    1/10 Alan Johnson on 140 years of education through the prism of one school in London.

  2. Tomorrow 09:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

    2. Hop-pickingSeries 1

    2/10 Alan Johnson's history of school education takes him to a hop garden in Kent.

  3. Wednesday 09:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

    3. Wartime & DepressionSeries 1

    3/10 Alan Johnson history of school education during the First World War and 1930s depression.

  4. Thursday 09:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

    4. Second World WarSeries 1

    4/10 Alan Johnson, the former Education Secretary, discovers the impact of the Second World War

  5. Friday 09:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

    5. The Rise of the Secondary ModernSeries 1

    5/10 Alan Johnson documents the school's reconstruction after the war.

  6. Next Monday 09:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

    6. The Comprehensive SystemSeries 1

    6/10 Alan Johnson considers the pros and cons of the more liberal comprehensive system.

  7. Next Tuesday 09:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

    7. Golden YearsSeries 1

    7/10 Alan Johnson uncovers the school's success stories in academic and sporting fields.

  8. Wed 9 Sep 2026 09:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

    8. A Changing NeighbourhoodSeries 1

    8/10 Alan Johnson considers the impact of violence and gangs in the school's neighbourhood.

  9. Thu 10 Sep 2026 09:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

    9. PunishmentSeries 1

    9/10 Alan Johnson examines school punishments from Victorian times to the present day.

  10. Fri 11 Sep 2026 09:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

    10. A School of the FutureSeries 1

    10/10 Alan Johnson visits a brand new academy on the site, Ark All Saints.