Decolonising Curriculum in Schools: Change and Challenges

26th April 2022 : 15:30 - 17:00

Category: Seminar

Research Group: Subject Pedagogy

Speaker: Dr Katharine Burn, Dr Steve Puttick, Dr Velda Elliot

Location: Zoom Webinar

Audience: Public

Please save the date for this event, which will be online: Join Zoom Meeting

 

Drawing on recent research in Geography, History and English, this seminar will examine the natures of the changes that have been made by teachers in schools to address the decolonization agenda. We draw on ongoing research such as a corpus analysis of Teaching History and work on ‘Canon in Colour’ and these publications:

Burn, K. & Harris, R. (2021) Historical Association Survey of History in Secondary Schools in England 2021. https://www.history.org.uk/secondary/categories/409/news/4014/historical-association-secondary-survey-2021

Puttick, S. & Murrey, A. (2020) Confronting the deafening silence on race in geography education: learning from anti-racism, decolonial and Black geographies, Geography, 105(3), pp.126-134.

Elliott, V., Nelson-Addy, L., Chantiluke, R. & Courtney, M. (2021) Lit in Colour Diversity in Literature in English Schools. London: Penguin & Runnymede Trust.

 

Considering elements of content, curriculum, sequencing, assessment and pedagogy, we utilise cross-subject learning to explore the changes and challenges, and the ways in which teachers are exercising agency within this contested sphere. The policy and political background in which these changes are taking place is charged, and this has an impact on staff and students.  Finally we raise some questions for other subjects, and challenge our audience to consider how and what changes can and are being made in their own areas.