James Cunningham

|

History school reforms welcomed by city MP

COVENTRY SOUTH MP Jim Cunningham is backing plans to teach school pupils about the British Empire.

The empire and the slave trade are both expected to be made compulsory elements of the new draft National Curriculum for History for 11-14 year olds.

Under Government reforms, the topics are likely to join the two World Wars and the Holocaust which are currently compulsory in the current National Curriculum.

Coventry South MP Mr Cunningham pressed Schools Minister Jim Knight on the issue of history in schools, and today welcomed the reforms.

He said: “History is a hugely important subject and I welcome these planned reforms to the National Curriculum.

“Pupils will continue to learn about the importance and impact of events in the last century, such as the World Wars and the Holocaust.

“The history and impact of the slave trade will be added to the curriculum with references about the role of reformers such as Equiano and Wilberforce.

“In addition citizenship classes will see pupils study national identity including issues such as the legacy of Empire.

“I believe these are positive changes because it is important young people learn just how the country has become what it is today.

“We can learn many lessons from the past and things like the Empire, and how that lead into the Commonwealth, help us do that.”

A formal consultation on the new secondary curriculum began on February 5, 2007 and will run until April 30, 2007.

Revised programmes of study will be available to schools for planning purposes in September 2007, with implementation beginning in September 2008.