People wave from the bow of the Empire Windrush

Windrush education

Windrush Day marks the day SS Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex in 1948.

About Windrush

Windrush Day takes place on the 22 June and is a chance to commemorate and celebrate the anniversary of the arrival of the passengers of the Empire Windrush to the UK.

The arrival of the ship HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in 1948, bringing more than 800 passengers from the Caribbean, is a moment that shaped modern Britain. 

The 75th anniversary was in 2023. The NEU is among many organisations and trade unions that wish to build change, before 2048, which will mark 100 years. 

By the time of the Windrush centenary in 2048, those who can talk first hand about their experience will no longer be with us. The NEU therefore supports the recording and capturing of stories of the Windrush generation, before they are lost, and so much can be learned by young people through inter- generational dialogue. 

The Windrush story can help illustrate to students why Britain’s multi- ethnic society looks as it does today. Every student in school needs to get the chance to learn about this important moment in our shared British history.

Windrush video cover

Watch this video on the contributions that the Windrush generation have made to Britain.

Windrush in the curriculum

Since 2023, two texts by Black British women writers have featured on the English specification across three exam boards. AQA, Eduqas and OCR have added Leave Taking by Winsome Pinnock and The Princess and the Hustler by Chinonyerem Odimba to their collection of texts for examination from 2025.

Teaching resources

These teaching resources help pupils reflect on the importance of Windrush and how migration has shaped modern Britain. The resources have been written by The Linking Network in partnership with the Windrush 100 Organisation who are building up to a national celebration for the centennial anniversary year in 2028.

Resources include:

  • A Primary and Secondary Assembly
  • Primary Lesson/Secondary tutorial sessions with activities
  • New videos showing Bradford classes talking with Windrush Elders
  • A toolkit providing guidance and lesson resources for schools who arrange an interview with a Windrush elder or descendant.

All the resources are available on The Linking Network 

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also produced resources and guidance to support teaching about the Windrush Monument, and the lives of individuals from the Windrush generation. These aim to support comprehensive study of personal experiences and significant contributions to Britain. There is also a Windrush interactive timeline, which details extraordinary achievements of notable figures from the Windrush generation and their descendants.

Ages 7-11

Ages 11-14

Ages 14-16

Further resources 

Windrush Foundation | Remembering a generation

Windrush & the legacy of patriots | New Law Journal | The leading weekly legal magazine


 

Back to top