Overview

• Policy Exchange's 'Lessons from the Past' report critiques the inclusion of fringe narratives, such as black builders of Stonehenge and Nero's alleged trans spouse, in school curriculums.
• The report flags the omission of key British historical events, including the battles of Waterloo and Trafalgar, with as few as 10% of students learning about them.
• 83% of secondary schools have reportedly altered their history syllabi to 'decolonise' content, often reducing emphasis on traditional European and British narratives.
• The Department for Education is reviewing the curriculum, with proposals for a mandatory GCSE paper covering British history from 1066 to 1989 to ensure chronological understanding.
• Former education secretaries and historians back the report's call for a balanced approach, emphasizing the need to avoid politicized or one-sided interpretations of history.