Peter D’Sena is Emeritus Professor of History and Education at the University of Hertfordshire. His early research focused on crime in eighteenth-century London and his heart remains very much in that area of enquiry. However, during the course of his career, his work shifted to towards history pedagogy, particularly cultural diversity and curriculum development.
Peter’s key contributions are borne from an enduring commitment, over four decades, to equality and inclusion. As a writer of ‘Curriculum 2000’ for schools, he championed the introduction of Black history; and he continues to lecture and write on decolonising the curriculum. His innovative resources for those for ‘New to Teaching’ are still used in the UK and beyond; his contributions to QAA Benchmark Statements inform undergraduate provision; and his expertise brings work chairing inspections in History and Archaeology for European quality assurance agencies. He is a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Historical Research (IHR); a Principal Fellow of the HEA; was a Vice-President (Education) of the Royal Historical Society; and. more recently, was a member of the Advisory Board member of the 5-volume New Cambridge History of Britain (2025).
Peter retired recently, but is still a Principal Investigator for two Impact Accelerator Award-funded History projects, both with a focus on decolonising and postcolonialism: one at Severndroog Castle, Shooters Hill; the other at Audley End House. He is also a founding trustee of the recently formed Society for Teaching and Learning in Archaeology and Heritage (STeLAH).
