Lesson planning: Five ways to diversify the history curriculum

When it comes to fostering a sense of inclusivity and belonging among pupils, schools are guided by a range of policies and recommendations.

For example, the Race Relations (Amendment) Act (2000) stipulated that schools must promote race equality and relations between people (i.e. children) of different racial groups, and the Equality Act (2010) clarified the unlawful nature of racial discrimination, providing guidance for the advancement of equal opportunities for all pupils.

These policies – plus, of course, a sense of moral compulsion on the part of teachers – have resulted in a wide range of initiatives. Teachers may in some cases integrate learning on inclusion into PSHE or citizenship curricula. There might be assemblies celebrating Black History Month or promoting LGBT+ awareness, or drop-down days or weeks might be organised to provide additional curriculum space for the delivery of identity-based content.