Commenting on the passing of motion 36 at Annual Conference in Harrogate, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"The national curriculum must become more relevant and representative for all children and young people. Currently, its scope is too narrow in subject matter and mandatory topics. Meanwhile, rigid assessment methods create an ‘exam factory’ culture, distorting teaching styles and limiting learning.
"We need a teaching philosophy that values the diverse backgrounds and experiences of pupils, equips the next generation with critical thinking skills, and fosters a sense of belonging for every learner to thrive in modern, diverse Britain. This means developing a teaching philosophy that draws on home and school cultures in a culturally responsive pedagogy.
“The Curriculum and Assessment Review must make serious and ambitious recommendations on developing an actively anti-racist curriculum.”
Editor’s Note
Part of our recommendations to the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review, is a collection of essays on how to make the curriculum more representative and relevant for all pupils, including those from diverse backgrounds. Thinking Beyond the Box offers a range of expert approaches, from the likes of Dr Aminul Hoque at Goldsmith's (presenter of BBC Four’s A Very British History: British Bangladeshis), Professor Claire Alexander at Manchester University (co-author of Our Migration Story), and from the world of publishing Dr Zaahida Nabagereka of Lit in Colour and Penguin Random House.