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Parliamentary Papers, Proceedings and Departmental Papers : UK: Education

Please note

Finding departmental publications

In the first instance search SOLO. Many documents are published in electronic form only. Post 2007 search the UK Goverment Web Archive. For current material search the Department for Education pages on GOV.UK or the main publications search portal.

When searching the library catalogue it can be very useful to know the name of the publishing body.

  • 1839-1856   Committee of the Privy Council on Education  
  • 1856-1899   Education Department    
  • 1899-1944   Board of Education  
  • 1944-1964   Ministry of Education    
  • 1964-1992   Department of Education and Science (DES)
  • 1992-1995   Department for Education
  • 1995-2001   Department for Education and Employment
  • 2001-2007   Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
  • 2007-2010   Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)
  • 2010-          Department for Education

The advanced search option can help limit your results. If you know who has published the item, for example the Department of Children, Schools and Families - in the author field type 'Children, Schools Families' and any appropriate keywords, this will limit your search to that publishing body. This can be particulary helpful with older records, for example 'Ministry Education'.

National Digital Archive of Datasets (an archived site)  provides a detailed administrative description

Useful links to archives and collections

Useful links to recent material