James Percival studied history and philosophy as an undergraduate, and subsequently trained as a primary teacher with history as his specialist subject. After a 10-year teaching career in several Oxfordshire schools, having taught in both key stages, acted as curriculum coordinator and mentored teacher trainees and Newly Qualified Teachers, he transferred into teacher training at Oxford Brookes University in 2004. James has subsequently worked with trainee teachers across several programmes whilst developing a research profile in primary history pedagogy. His doctorate centred on the curriculum management of history in primary schools.