Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department issues to schools and local education authorities on the teaching around the British Empire in the National Curriculum.

The national curriculum for history for key stages 1 to 3 includes references to the British Empire and gives teachers and schools the flexibility to use specific examples to teach pupils about the history of Britain and the wider world.

The British Empire could be taught across the three key stages. At key stage 1, pupils should be taught about changes within living memory, events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally, and the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements. At key stage 2, when teaching about the concept of empire and teaching about other empires, further foundations can be developed for the teaching of the British Empire.

Teaching about the British Empire can take place across the time periods and themes at key stage 3. Within the statutory themes of ‘the development of Church, state and society in Britain 1509-1745’, ‘ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901’, ‘challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day’, there are non-statutory examples of what children might be taught about the British Empire. The British Empire could also be taught within the requirement for the study of an aspect or theme in British history that consolidates and extends pupils’ chronological knowledge from before 1066 and within local history across the three key stages.

As part of the flexibility all schools have in teaching the national curriculum, schools and teachers are able to determine which examples, topics and resources to use to stimulate and challenge pupils and reflect key points in history.

The department announced a Curriculum and Assessment Review last year. The review’s interim report is due to be published in early 2025, with a final report later in the year.