Save our Curriculum!

Once again OBV along with a coalition of BME organisations has joined forces with the Runnymede Trust to ensure our National Curriculum, particularly around history remains diverse and reflects a UK and global history that will inspire all children. Runnymede’s briefing paper in regards to ensuring Mary Seacole and Olaudah Equiano stayed on the history curriculum was hugely helpful in winning that debate. Now our joint efforts in response to the consultation paper about the proposed changes to the curriculum.

Here’s a summary of the official response by Runnymede:

The consultation proposals talk about a history that reflects an ‘Island Story’. However, the content as outlined in the proposal presumes there is only one ‘Island Story’ to be told. Given the plurality of heritages, religions and ethnicities of those who both live and lived in Britain, historically, such presumptions are incomplete.

We urge the Government to rethink this narrow ‘Island story’.

The proposals suggest that world histories are only to be positioned with regards to how they relate to British history.

This proposal is wrong on a number of levels: The present proposals suggest that only the Greek and Roman empires relate to British history, whilst ignoring the fact that highly developed ancient societies both in central Africa and the well documented ancient Egyptian societies, both of which heavily influenced the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Secondly, and equally important is the need to ensure pupils are taught in ways that are relevant and engaging. This is made easier when young people recognise their heritage and that of their family has also contributed to British history.

We urge the Government to accept the principal that looking at world histories in relation to British histories ensures that pupils have not just a British/European perspective but also a relevant global view too.

The present proposals that introduce a linear narrative of history, will mean that the presence of those of African and Asian descent will not feature in young people’s learning until they are 11 years of age and at secondary school.

Reflecting ethnic diversity in our history curriculum is important not just to minority ethnic students but to all students who will better understand and appreciate our multicultural societies and globe.

We urge the Government to ensure that children do not have to wait until they are 11 before there is any history that includes peoples and cultures of Africa, Asia, and China.

We urge the curriculum not to see Africans and Asians only through the prism of slavery, colonialism and the Civil Rights movement, but also through the significant contribution they have made to Britain.

Next steps: Please cut and paste these demands and send them off to this address: NationalCurriculum.CONSULTATION@education.gsi.gov.uk

Add your own views too if you’d like. But we need to ensure that as many people respond to this consultation as possible

Many thanks.

Simon Woolley Rob Berkeley and Debbie Weekes-Bernard

Groups supporting this:

Andy Gregg Chief Executive Race on the Agenda

Leander Neckles- Equanomics-UK

Jabeer Butt- Race Foundation

Zita Holbourne –BARAC

Patrick Vernon- Every Generation

Lara Oyedele, CEO , BME National

Lee Jasper, Chair of London Race and Criminal Justice Consortium

Ratna Lachman -JUST West Yorkshire

Nero Ughwajabo -Croydon BME Forum

Jeremy Crook- BTEG

Karen Chohan, Race Equality Coalition

Simon Woolley- OBV

Rob Berkeley-Runnymede Trust

Aaron Kiely-Black Students Union

Kunle Olulode Voice 4 Change