King Alfred School in north London was founded in 1898 by a group of Hampstead radicals in an age of educational experiment and innovation. Whereas many educational ventures of that era set up by small groups of idealists soon floundered or quickly lost their crusading zeal, King Alfred School has developed over the last century with its original ideals largely unchanged and its enthusiasm for its distinctive form of education undiminished. This centenary history of a particularly interesting progressive school will appeal to a much wider circle than that of the school's old students. It is a major contribution to the history of progressive education in Britain which in turn is set in the context of a wider educational, social and political history. The study is based on a wide range of sources and is informed by the author's extensive knowledge of the history of education in the twentieth century, a field in which he has published widely.
