As part of our wider curriculum review, and in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, we have created a curriculum that includes a greater emphasis on British and world Black history.
We have worked hard to ensure that this rightly balances discussions and lessons on racism both today and throughout history and the struggles Black people have faced, as well as celebrating the often overlooked achievements of Black people in history across all fields.
This will be embedded across the curriculum all year round as Black history is part of our history.
Children will read books with stories and characters that show greater diversity – both in the books in the classroom reading corners and the class texts that they study.
Africa
Africa has a rich history: African kingdoms and empires were powerful, wealthy and influential and had advanced societies, long before slavery and colonialism. This will include learning about Benin in Year 5, Ancient Egypt in Year 3, and as part of the Year 2 world topic.
The role the British had in the transatlantic slave trade.
How European countries including Britain colonised Africa and the lasting impact this, together with the slave trade, had on Africa. They will learn about Africa’s fight for independence.
Apartheid in South Africa and the role Nelson Mandela played in ending this and creating a new South Africa.
The richness of African culture and the diversity of the continent today.
The fight for civil rights
The slave trade. Life as a slave in America and the fight for freedom led by influential people such as Harriet Tubman. They will learn about the Underground Railroad.
The abolition of slavery in the British Empire.
The lasting impact of slavery and the further fights Black people had and still have.
Segregation in 20th Century USA; Rosa Parks and the bus boycott.
Martin Luther King and his peaceful protests, including his ‘I have a dream’ speech.
The significance of Barack Obama becoming president of the USA.
Black Britain
That Black people have been part of British society for hundreds of years, including in Roman and Tudor times.
Modern Black Britain can be considered as starting in June 1948 with the arrival of people from the Caribbean on the Empire Windrush. The contribution these people made, the hostility many of these people faced then, as well as how they have been treated since.
The role Black soldiers played in WW1 and WW2.
Achievements of Black people, including:
Bessie Coleman, early American civil aviator, Year 1
Mary Seacole, nurse during Crimean War, Year 2
Martin Luther King, civil rights activist, Year 2 and 6
Rosa Parks, civil rights activist, Year 2 and 6
Serena Williams, sporting hero, Year 2
Marcus Rashford, sporting hero and campaigner, Year 2
Colin Kapernick, sporting activist, Year 2
Claudia Jones, journalist, activist and founder of Notting Hill Carnival, Year 4
Chris Ofili, British Turner Prize-winning artist, Year 5
Joseph Thiongo, artist, Year 2
Nelson Mandela, political leader, Year 5 and 6
Barack Obama, political leader, Year 2
Harriet Tubman, American abolitionist and campaigner, Year 5 and 6
Matthew Henson, American explorer, Year 5
Mae Jemison, NASA astronaut, Year 5
Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan and Katherine Johnson, Mathematicians and aerospace engineers, Year 5
Walter Tull, WW1 soldier and professional footballer, Year 6
Malorie Blackman, author, Year 3 and 6
Jesse Owens, Olympic athlete, Year 6
Tommie Smith, Olympic athlete, Year 6
Dr Daniel Hale Williams, American surgeon, Year 6
Ghandi, political activist, Year 6
Malala Yousafzai, activist, Year 4 and 6
Lewis Latimer, inventor, Year 4
