Teachers invited to participate in new project on Empire, Migration and Belonging in schools

Researchers seek insights from schools on how they teach pupils about the British Empire and its impact on the country in the present day.

To date, teachers have not been consulted on a national level about when, where and how they teach these important topics. For the first time, secondary school teachers are invited to complete a national survey to inform solid empirical research.

The project, “A portrait of the teaching of the British Empire, migration and belonging in English secondary schools”, brings together academics from the University of Oxford’s Department of Education and IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, and is funded by the Pears Foundation until 2025.

Dr Jason Todd, Co-Lead Investigator and Departmental Lecturer at the Department of Education, said: “The history of the British Empire, migration and identity are fundamental to understanding Britain, but it is unclear how schools across the country are engaging students in this area.

“This research study will provide a robust empirical base from which to understand what views and practices exist in our schools, and to more fully appreciate the context in which these views and practices exist.”

Based on the findings, the research will consider and identify ways to support teachers via continuing professional development for teaching and learning in relation to the themes of the project.

Find out more on the project website.