Milton Abbey School is proud to announce that its Headmaster, Mr James Watson, has been featured in The Telegraph for his response to a recent article “the forgotten King Aethelstan". The piece highlights the growing concern that King Aethelstan, a pivotal figure in the formation of England, is being oin an article titled verlooked in modern education.
In his contribution, Mr Watson passionately defends the enduring relevance of Aethelstan, who not only united the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms but also founded Milton Abbey itself as a centre of worship and education in 934 AD.
"I spent a very pleasant morning yesterday teaching our new students about Aethelstan,” said Mr Watson. “Despite the slings and arrows fired at independent schools by government policy, one of the distinct advantages of independent education and the main reason parents choose us is the fact that we do not have to follow the well-meaning but turgid national curriculum.”
As both Headmaster and a historian, Mr Watson emphasised the freedom independent schools have to craft a more enriching and contextually resonant curriculum. By engaging students with the formative stories of their nation’s identity, such as Aethelstan’s unification of England, Milton Abbey continues its long tradition of bringing history vividly to life.
“Milton Abbey School has spent many decades championing Aethelstan” added Mr Watson, “and we will proudly do so for many more.” One of our boarding houses, is named after King Athelstan of Wessex himself, who camped with his army on the hillside, east of the present Abbey church and had a vision foreshadowing his success in a forthcoming battle. He founded the Abbey in gratitude.
Milton Abbey remains committed to an education that inspires curiosity, critical thinking, and a deep sense of historical and cultural understanding, values that remain as vital today as they were in Aethelstan’s time.