Roger Noel Armfelt (1897-1955): watching over the development and implementation of educational legislation for secondary education in mid-twentieth century England

This article attempts to reconstruct the life and work of Roger Noel Armfelt with a particular emphasis on his role in watching the development and implementation of educational legislation relating to secondary education. Armfelt focussed on observing practice and steering secondary education reform in local communities during the 1920s and 1930s. He held significant posts whilst legislation was being developed. He has not been the subject of any biographies or peer reviewed articles. There are no extensive collections of his papers held in archives accessible to researchers. A small selection of materials can be found in various archival collections and these have been drawn on for this study. This article is structured around three themes: monitoring the development of secondary education for all; think tanks, committees and reflecting on secondary educational reform in print; and media intersections with educational reform. The article revisits Armfelt’s circle of friends including publishers and broadcasting administrators. It reconstructs some aspects of the overlapping worlds of education and broadcasting, which shaped Armfelt’s struggles and opportunities. Alongside archival collections consulted, oral history interviews were also conducted, including discussions with Armfelt’s elder daughter Robinetta Gaze and granddaughter Harriet Gaze.