History KS3 / GCSE: The fight for women’s education in Victorian Britain

Images, documents, and interviews with historians all form an exploration of the work of Millicent Fawcett – a feminist educational campaigner in the 19th century.

Dr. Amanda Foreman considers how women faced many restrictions during the Victorian era, with a focus on poor education.

Some of Fawcett’s legacies are explored. For example, the all-female Newnham College at Cambridge University, and her role in the women’s suffrage movement.

These are considered to be key mile-stones in the history of the feminist struggle for greater opportunity.

This short film is from the BBC Two series, The Ascent of Woman.

Teacher Notes

Pupils could create a fact file about Millicent Fawcett detailing her upbringing, her views and her actions.

Discuss and share as a class, thinking about how her upbringing affected her views.

Curriculum Notes

This short film is suitable for teaching history at KS3 and KS4/GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Fourth Level and National 4 and 5 in Scotland.

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