Since the early eighteenth century, Britain has been governed by a number of eminent politicians. Between them, these Prime Ministers have courted controversy, inspired fellow politicians, initiated radical policies, aroused passions of love and hate amongst their public, led the country to heights of national pride and guided the nation in both peace and war. This course will examine the public and private lives of just ten Prime Ministers from Walpole to Chamberlain, whose leadership helped to shape the style and nature of contemporary politics today. We will analyse their successes and failures as statesmen in order to appreciate how and why they each earned a place in history. We shall examine diaries and letters, as well as autobiographies and biographies in order to gain insights into their respective roles as Prime Minister. Finally, we shall look at how prime ministerial responsibilities have changed over a period of three centuries.
The Public and Private Lives of British Prime Ministers: Walpole to Chamberlain
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.
Overview
Programme details
Course starts: 22 Jan 2026
Week 1: Sir Robert Walpole
Week 2: William Pitt the Younger
Week 3: Sir Robert Peel
Week 4: William Gladstone
Week 5: Benjamin Disraeli
Week 6: Lord Salisbury
Week 7: David Lloyd George
Week 8: Ramsay MacDonald
Week 9: Stanley Baldwin
Week 10: Neville Chamberlain
Recommended reading
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Optional preparatory reading:
- Modern British Statesmen 1867 - 1945 / Kelly, R and Cantrell, J., eds
- Aspects of British Political History 1815-1914 / Lee, S.J
- A History of British Prime Ministers / Leonard, Dick
- British Prime Ministers in the Twentieth Century / Mackintosh, John P
- British Prime Ministers from Balfour to Brown / Pearce, Robert and Goodland, Graham
- The Making of Modern British Politics 1867 - 1914 / Pugh, Martin
Certification
Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) Points
Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. Please follow this link for more information on Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) points
Digital Certificate of Completion
Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Please note students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee (with no assessment) | £300.00 |
| Assessment and Accreditation fee | £60.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Tutor
Mrs Annette Mayer
Annette Mayer is a Senior Associate Tutor in History at OUDCE. She teaches modern British History and is the author of two books, The Growth of Democracy in Britain, and Women in Britain 1900 – 2000 published by Hodder & Stoughton
Course aims
- To investigate and evaluate the public and private lives of ten eminent Prime Ministers who governed Britain from the eighteenth century to the twentieth century.
- To analyse the role of each individual as a Prime Minister and to assess their contribution to British politics by examining styles of leadership, policies and their overall success as statesmen.
- To gain an understanding of how the role of Prime Minister developed within a framework of constitutional government over a period of three centuries.
- To encourage students to form critical judgements and to develop a range of historical skills by means of class discussions and analysis of primary sources and secondary works.
Course Objectives:
- To analyse the role of each individual as a Prime Minister and to assess their contribution to British politics by examining styles of leadership, polices and their overall success as statesmen.
- To look beyond the public image to that of the private individual in order to gain further insights into the lives of the men whose leadership shaped British government.
- To encourage students to form critical judgements and to develop a range of historical skills by means of class discussions and analysis of primary sources and secondary works.
Teaching methods
Teaching methods will include: tutor's presentation, with powerpoint slides, controlled class discussion, small group discussions and plenary sessions and debates. Course members will be encouraged to discuss and ask questions. Each session will include analysis of historical documents some of which students will be expected to have studied at home in preparation for work in class. Teaching will involve the use of a range of visual material as well as primary and secondary sources.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:
1. Assess and recognise the main contributions each Prime Minister made to national politics and identify the range of factors which determined their respective successes and failures as politicians.
2. Understand the changing nature of prime ministerial responsibilities over a period of three centuries.
3. Compare, evaluate and interpret primary sources and assess different historical interpretations.
Assessment methods
Tasks set for coursework will be varied, with students able to choose from one of two options.
Option A involves submitting three short pieces of work each c. 500 words.
Option B includes the chance to write one piece of work, total c. 1500 words, in depth, e.g. an essay question from a set list or a question agreed with the tutor.
Students will also be able to submit a 500 word formative assignment during the course.
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation will submit coursework.
Application
To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
Students who do not register for assessment and credit during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.
Level and demands
The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.