Labour ‘drops plans’ to stop teachers politicising the British Empire
Labour has been accused of dropping plans to “depoliticise” the teaching of the British Empire and slavery in schools.
The Government is said to have abandoned a Conservative-commissioned review of the history curriculum designed to prevent Britain’s imperial past being “decolonised” by teachers.
The review was led by Robert Tombs, professor emeritus of French history at the University of Cambridge, and Blondel Cluff, a member of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities.
It had finalised its report on primary school history teaching when the election was called in July and was set to begin looking into secondary schools, according to The Times.
But after Sir Keir Starmer’s victory, members of the panel are said to have been told by the Department for Education (DfE) that their work, which started in 2022, was no longer needed.
Kemi Badenoch championed the review when she was equalities minister under Rishi Sunak.
She has previously said schools needed to teach students “both sides of the story” when it came to British imperial history.
Sources close to the Tory leadership contender said she felt strongly that teachers deserved more support to stop the teaching of history becoming politicised.
Highly regarded
“This was a very serious piece of work by a panel of highly regarded historians,” one source said.
“But it appears that it has been abandoned straight away by the new Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, without any explanation.
“It is completely the wrong thing to do.”
Sources in the DfE told The Times that the review had come to an end but that its work would be considered as part of Labour’s broader curriculum review.
The specific review of the history curriculum was one of the recommendations of the Sewell report on race and ethnic disparities in Britain.
“Neither the banning of white authors or token expressions of black achievement will help to broaden young minds,” the report said.
“We have argued against bringing down statues, instead, we want all children to reclaim their British heritage.”
Serious about education
A government source told The Telegraph: “The Tories waited 14 years to look at diversity in the curriculum. We began the process of reform within 14 days of winning power. It shows the difference between the parties.
“We’ll look at the curriculum as a whole, not just history. That’s because this Government is serious about creating an education system that sets all young people up to succeed.
“Badenoch’s whole bid for the Tory leadership has shown that she and her party are determined to learn nothing from their crushing electoral defeat.
“They are clearly not serious about governing or the education of our children. We put children first where they put themselves first.”
A spokesman for the DfE said: “High and rising standards are at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start.
“The Curriculum and Assessment review will bring together leading education experts, leaders and staff, to consider how to ensure young people have access to a broad and balanced curriculum that reflects the issues and diversities of our society, as well as the crucial work and life skills necessary to succeed in both the workplace and throughout their lives.”