“People need to start buying encyclopaedias and history books which tell the truth about British history so they can show their children and grandchildren. We mustn’t let Labour rewrite our history.”
The national curriculum is set for a significant overhaul under Labour’s plans, which aim to make it even more “diverse” and compulsory for all state schools, including academies previously free to opt out.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has pledged to “breathe new life into our outdated curriculum,” but critics warn the changes will undermine academic rigour in favour of ideological goals.
The Department for Education (DfE) has explicitly stated that the review aims to create a curriculum reflecting the “diversities of our society” to produce young people who “appreciate the diversity” of modern Britain. Led by Prof Becky Francis, a feminist academic, the review began in November and is expected to release interim findings in early 2025, with a full report later in the year.
Prof Francis, who previously criticised Tony Blair’s government for its “obsession with academic achievement,” has invited proposals from unions, think tanks, and other stakeholders. Among the recommendations are calls to “decolonise” subjects and include more diverse authors and perspectives, particularly in majority white classrooms.
Proposals and Controversy
According to the Telegraph major unions and education groups have already weighed in with bold suggestions. The teachers’ union NASUWT has urged the review to “embed anti-racist and decolonised approaches” and create “inclusive curricula.”
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) cited research claiming children as young as three begin categorising people by race and argued the curriculum should counter racial bias by promoting “positive images and messages.”
Examination boards have also called for changes, with OCR stating that the literary canon should “better reflect the range of cultures and experiences of all young people.” Similarly, the Haberdashers’ family of schools has expressed concern over English texts being “overly Western-centric and traditional.”
However, critics warn the proposed changes could compromise the quality of education. Sir John Hayes, a former Conservative education minister, described the plans as an attempt to “twist the facts to suit your political agenda.” He added: “The truth of the matter is there’s a canon of English literature, there’s a factual basis to learning, and you can’t distort that without risking the education of young people.”
Parents have taken to social media to voice their strong opposition to Labour’s proposed curriculum changes. One mother wrote: “Bridget Phillipson is yet another Labour Minister who has an axe to grind. The kids come second to her ideological beliefs.”
Another parent urged others to take matters into their own hands: “People need to start buying encyclopaedias and history books which tell the truth about British history so they can show their children and grandchildren. We mustn’t let Labour rewrite our history.”
Others expressed concern over the ideological direction of the reforms. One said: “I guess it will feature heavily on the irredeemable past sins of white men for which we must spend eternity in repentance.”
Another commenter accused Labour of pushing a divisive agenda: “Labour starting to show their true anti-British, anti-white credentials. They’ve always hated us, particularly the white working class. Why anyone votes for them is a mystery.”
Focus on ‘Breadth and Diversity’
According to Labour, their review also aims to increase access to music, art, sport, and drama while improving vocational education. However, critics argue that the focus on “diversity” comes at the expense of essential subjects such as English and maths, where British students excel.
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott stated: “Instead of spending time fiddling with our academic curriculum, which has led to English children being the best at maths and English in the Western world, the DfE needs to concentrate on getting absence rates down and kids back in the classroom.”
Phillipson Faces Backlash
The announcement comes amid criticism of Bridget Phillipson for comments on Labour’s private school VAT raid, claiming it had the support of middle-class parents. Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, dismissed the remarks as “more gaslighting from this socialist Government that has broken its general election promises.”
With the interim report due next year, the debate is set to intensify, reflecting a deep divide over the future direction of Britain’s education system.
Main Image: Illustration purposes only. AI image generated by Grok.
