Commenting after the passing of motion 10 at NEU Annual Conference, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“A modern and engaging curriculum should be something that everyone welcomes. The current curriculum has a lack of representation and this isn’t the result of a lack of interest from students or their teachers.
“How can children flourish in a system of education through which they can’t see themselves reflected?
“We should be developing a curriculum for children and young people that supports the democratic values of a diverse Britain. We need to take a broader view of what success means so that children and young people are valued for their effort as well as their long-term achievements within and outside formal education. The curriculum needs to support all children and young people’s sense of belonging in 21st Century Britain, and help them develop respect for themselves and respectful social and inter-cultural relationships with each other.
“Many schools work very hard to do this, but in spite of national curriculum and assessment policy, not because of it.
“We can learn from the Welsh Government review of the curriculum to reflect Black and Asian and Minority Ethnic communities’ contributions. It is the responsibility of policy makers and exam boards to ensure we have a curriculum that is relevant to all children and young people, and one that teachers can adapt successfully and realistically for all learners.’’