Teach Britain's colonial past as part of the UK's compulsory curriculum
The Parliament petitions site records 268,772 signatures for this petition, which closed on 10 December 2020. The Government responded on 30 July 2020. MPs debated it in Westminster Hall on 28 June 2021.
The petition
The petition's creator is not named in the Petitions site's published record. Quoted in full from the UK Parliament petitions site.
Teach Britain's colonial past as part of the UK's compulsory curriculum
Currently, it is not compulsory for primary or secondary school students to be educated on Britain's role in colonisation, or the transatlantic slave trade. We petition the government to make education on topics such as these compulsory, with the ultimate aim of a far more inclusive curriculum.
Now, more than ever, we must turn to education and history to guide us. But vital information has been withheld from the people by institutions meant to educate them. By educating on the events of the past, we can forge a better future. Colonial powers must own up to their pasts by raising awareness of the forced labour of Black people, past and present mistreatment of BAME people, and most importantly, how this contributes to the unfair systems of power at the foundation of our modern society.
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 30 July 2020; the petitions site lists the Department for Education as responsible. Its summary:
The history curriculum at Key Stage 3 includes the statutory theme “ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain 1745-1901”. Topics within statutory themes are chosen by schools and teachers.
The opening 366 words of the 527-word response:
Within the history curriculum there is already a statutory theme at Key Stage 3 titled “ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901”, as such we do not believe there is a need to take this action as the option to teach this topic exists within this compulsory theme. The history curriculum gives teachers and schools the freedom and flexibility to use specific examples from history to teach pupils about the history of Britain and the wider world at all stages. It is for schools and teachers themselves to determine which examples, topics and resources to use to stimulate and challenge pupils and reflect key points in history.
There are opportunities within the themes and eras of the history curriculum for teachers and schools to teach about Britain's role in colonisation and the transatlantic slave trade.
The full curriculum is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-history-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-history-programmes-of-study
We have drawn out below both statutory and non-statutory examples of themes in the curriculum where these topics could be taught.
Key Stage 1: Events within or 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.
Key Stage 2: A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066.
Key Stage 3: Within the theme ‘the development of Church, state and society in Medieval Britain 1066-1509’, examples given include the Norman Conquest, and the English campaigns to conquer Wales and Scotland up to 1314;
Within the theme ‘the development of Church, state and society in Britain 1509-1745’, examples given include the first colony in America and first contact with India;
Within the theme ‘ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain 1745-1901’, examples given include Britain’s transatlantic slave trade, including its effects and its eventual abolition, the development of the British Empire with a depth study (for example, of India), and Ireland and Home Rule;
Within the theme ‘challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day’, examples include the two world wars, Indian independence and end of Empire, social, cultural and technological change in post-war British society, and Britain’s place in the world since 1945;
Read the full response on the petitions site.
Where the signatures came from
Signatures came from 650 constituencies on the boundaries used until the 2024 general election. The largest number, 2,633, came from Bristol West.
265,909 of the signatures were from the UK and 2,863 from elsewhere, by the location signers gave.
| Constituency | Signatures |
|---|---|
| Bristol West | 2,633 |
| Hackney North and Stoke Newington | 2,302 |
| Lewisham, Deptford | 2,223 |
| Brighton, Pavilion | 2,151 |
| Hackney South and Shoreditch | 2,077 |
| Camberwell and Peckham | 1,962 |
| Hornsey and Wood Green | 1,879 |
| Islington North | 1,828 |
| Dulwich and West Norwood | 1,761 |
| Streatham | 1,732 |
| Region | Signatures |
|---|---|
| London | 69,634 |
| South East | 41,668 |
| South West | 24,668 |
| East of England | 22,792 |
| North West | 20,710 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 17,694 |
| West Midlands | 15,939 |
| Scotland | 15,924 |
| East Midlands | 14,474 |
| Wales | 7,523 |
| North East | 6,536 |
| Northern Ireland | 2,847 |
Debate in Parliament
MPs debated the petition in Westminster Hall on 28 June 2021. Read the debate in Hansard. House of Commons Library debate pack.
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/324092.jsonUK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
7c3b759c9e4c29c8… - The petition on petition.parliament.uk
The petition's words are its creator's and the response is the Government's; this site quotes both and gives no view on either. Signature counts can still change while a petition is open. To report an error, send a correction request.