Blackwell’s A level History Conference on Magna Carta

On Friday 10th March, a powerful programme of distinguished speakers attracted pupils and staff from 9 secondary schools to the 5th iteration of this annual Magdalen College School event, generously supported by Blackwell’s Bookshop and the Historical Association. MCS Head of History, Dr Max Habsburg organised the conference and was delighted to see so many enthusiastic delegates from MCS partner schools.

First to speak was Professor John Hudson, Bishop Wardlaw Professor at the University of St Andrews, who engaged the audience with his talk ‘Magna Carta and the rule of law’. The talk looked at the provisions of Magna Carta that seemed particularly relevant in light of modern definitions of the rule of law. Professor Hudson related these to legal developments beginning from the time of King John’s father, Henry II, and the ways in which these involved and constrained lordship.

Next, Professor Alice Taylor, a professor of Medieval History at King’s College, London offered an insightful lecture on ‘Magna Carta in the context of the British Isles’, looking at why Magna Carta mattered to Britain — as opposed to England — and how that echoes, surprisingly, with present-day issues. To close proceedings, Professor George Garnett (University of Oxford), taught pupils about ‘Magna Carta and the law of King Edward’.