Written question asked by Kim Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 November 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 November 2020. It was answered by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Wednesday, 2 December 2020 on behalf of the Department for Education.

History: Curriculum

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has taken steps to develop a de-colonised curriculum.

Answer: All state-funded schools (including academies) in England are required to teach a broad and balanced curriculum from the ages of 5 to 16, which includes English, Mathematics, science, religious education, and relationships, sex and health education: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum#programmes-of-study-by-subject. The reformed National Curriculum, taught from September 2014, has been developed to match or exceed the standards set in the highest performing jurisdictions. Whilst the National Curriculum creates a minimum expectation for maintained schools, it does not represent everything that a school should teach, nor does it set out how curriculum subjects, or topics within the subjects, should be taught. Teachers have freedom over precise details so they can teach lessons that are right for their pupils. The Government does not have plans to make further changes to the National Curriculum.

Secondary information