PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Ethnic Groups: Curriculum (4 October 2024)

The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The review will seek to deliver a curriculum that reflects the issues and diversities of our society, ensuring all children and young people are represented in their learning. The review group has recently launched a call for evidence, setting out a number of key questions and themes where it would particularly welcome evidence and input. Following the independent review, all schools will be required to teach the core national curriculum.

Schools and colleges are free to decide which events to commemorate and what activities to put in place to support pupils’ understanding of significant events and particular months or days dedicated to specific communities, such as Black History Month. Schools also have the opportunity to promote such events though the curriculum, for example through subjects such as history and citizenship. The flexibility in the history curriculum means that schools can teach Black history in all three key stages, and within citizenship teaching at key stage 4, pupils should be taught about the diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom and the need for mutual respect and understanding.