Workshop 2: The Urswick Church of England School, Hackney

Workshop 2: how to develop an oral history project and produce questions in preparation for an interview

In the second workshop, students were first given guidance on how to develop an oral history project, including an interview of Professor Humayun Ansari by Professor John Wolffe as an example. The students were then asked to produce questions themselves in preparation for their own interview of Professor Humayun Ansari. Follow this link for the transcription of their interview with Professor Humayun Ansari.

The students then prepared questions for interviewing the teachers and former students, informed by a school pamphlet of collected memories and photographs that included some of them. They were also given some sample questions for guidance:
Suggested by Professor John Wolffe:

• What were the school buildings like?
• What were the good/bad things about school in your time?  
• How did students get on with the teachers?
• What connections were there between the school and the church?  
• How was Christianity taught and practised in the school?

Suggested by students:

• What were your favourite subjects in school?
• Why did you enjoy these subjects?
• What years did you attend Hackney Free?
• What were School dinners like?
• Did you have a rewards policy for good behaviour and attendance?

Examples of these interviews are below:

Listen to the students' interviewing a teacher Listen to an interview with a former pupil