Dr Toby Purser

Following my academic studies (BA, MSt University of Oxford) and PhD specialising in Medieval History (University of Southampton), I qualified in secondary school teaching (PGCE University of Bath) and from 2001-2013 taught History in a variety of schools and colleges, holding roles in middle and senior management before rejoining Higher Education as a Senior Lecturer (Education Studies) at the University of Northampton 2013- present. I was 'A' level examiner for History and have authored four textbooks for GCSE and A level (Medieval England 2004; Raiders and Invaders, Power and Control 2006; The First Crusade and the Crusader States 2010 all published by Pearson). I have published several peer-reviewed articles and chapters on the medieval aristocracy, including a paper in the leading journal, Historical Research. My latest book, The Making of England: from Rome to Reformation, was published in 2022 with Amberley Publishers. I am also a fiction author and my novel The Zaharoff Conspiracy was published by Methuen in 2014. I have acted as Historical advisor to an exhibition of Magna Carta in Washington DC, July 2021 with Hawkwood International, including co-scripting a short film with Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings, Batman, Venom, etc) as King John; and recently, consultant writer for BBC Bitesize Keystage 2 History. I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

History of Education (curricula, pedagogy, great educators); Medieval History (gentry communities, government and politics, social history); history of England, early to late Medieval (c400-c1550); social and political history, current History teaching pedagogy and curricula; teaching the Holocaust, the National Curriculum in England, primary and secondary. I am interested in inter-disciplinary research, particularly archaeology, literature and historical records.

History of Education; curriculum studies; politics and culture; schooling strutures and organisations. Medieval History, history of childhood, heritage and education.