The 1st October marks the beginning of Black History Month in the UK. It is a national celebration which aims to promote and celebrate the contributions that Black communities and individuals have made to British society over the centuries, in shaping the dynamic and diverse country we have today. It also aims to foster an understanding of Black history in general and raise awareness of the contribution Black people have made to our freedoms, culture and society. One of the key aims of the history curriculum is to know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day. This includes how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world, which helps build an understanding of a shared British history.

Where can I read more? You can read more about Black History Month here.

Links to national resources: The Historical Association has many Black history resources available including those linked to in their annual Black History Month news story. You can access their website here.

The mentally healthy schools website has a number of resources which are divided into sections for primary schools, secondary and FE settings. There is also a section sharing whole-school approach resources. All of the resources include a focus on mental health themes, helping schools to explore ideas around diversity, self-belief, identity and the impact of racism on those who experience it. You can download the resources here.

The Windrush Foundation provides a free education pack for Key Stage 2 and 3, including lesson plans, activities, information and photographs. You can download the resource here.

You can access a wide range of short films on the BBC Teach website which explore black history, heritage, culture and achievements. There are a collection of resources for both primary and secondary schools, all accompanied with teacher notes here.

Stonewall have created a series of lesson plans to give schools some guidance on having an LGBT-inclusive Black History Month. The lessons and activities can be adapted to meet the needs of your children. Each lesson is accompanied with a PowerPoint to support whole-class teaching as well as a number of activities. You can access the resources here:

SEND

Primary

Secondary