All the major reports on Primary schooling in the twentieth century, Plowden included, were prefaced by an account of the historical development of the field. The newly anounced Primary Review which proclaims itself to be, 'the most comprehensive enquiry into English primary education since the Plowden Report of 1967' unaccountably does not propose to do this preferring instead a largely empiricist approach. One possible reason why historical enquiry is to be omitted is to be found here. 'The political discourse has moved on' | Schools special reports | EducationGuardian.co.uk