History: Curriculum

Question

As part of a broad and balanced curriculum, pupils should be taught about different societies, and how different groups have contributed to the development of Britain, and this can include the voices and experience of black people. The flexibility in the history curriculum means that teachers can include black history as a natural part of the themes and eras in the curriculum both in terms of British and world history, and their interconnection. For example, at key stage 1, schools can teach about the lives of key black historical figures, and at key stage 2, schools can embed teaching about black history appropriately when teaching these historical periods. Additionally there is a requirement to teach a study of a non-European society. The example provided by the department is Benin, West Africa, c. AD 900-1300. At key stage 3, schools can cover the development and end of the British Empire and Britain’s transatlantic slave trade, its effects and eventual abolition.

We are also developing a Model History Curriculum to support teaching a knowledge-rich, well-sequenced history curriculum which reflects diversity in history.

The teaching of black history need not be limited to these examples. There is scope to include black history and experience in other national curriculum subjects such as English and citizenship, and in the non-statutory subject personal, social, health and economics (PSHE) education.