Diversity – Oxford Education Podcast

35. Fight For Rights: Enrich Your KS3 History Curriculum

By Oxford Education | October 16, 2023

Aaron Wilkes, Alex Fairlamb, Becky Carter, Dan Lyndon-Cohen and Josh Preye Garry discuss how effective teaching of case studies on the fights for Women’s Rights, Disability Rights, Black Civil Rights and LGBTQ+ Rights can enrich your Key Stage 3 curriculum.

What do students gain from studying these topics at KS3? How has historical scholarship changed in recent years? What is the impact of new research on how we should teach these topics?

Aaron, Alex, Becky, Dan and Josh answer these questions and offer advice to any teacher thinking of introducing the fight for rights into their curriculum.

Aaron Wilkes has over 20 years’ experience working in schools as a teacher, department, and faculty leader. He also works with the PGCE History trainees at the University of Warwick. In addition to the classroom, Aaron is also one of the leading history authors in school publishing and his KS3 History series, now in its fourth edition and published by Oxford University Press, is currently the best-selling KS3 History textbook series/online package in the UK. Aaron is also Series Editor/co-author of OUP’s NEW KS3 Depth Studies: The British Empire, African Kingdoms, Fight for Rights, and Migration Nation. He is the Series Editor/co-author of OUP’s KS4 History textbooks which match the AQA and Edexcel GCSE History specification and is involved with the BBC as an Educational Consultant for their Bitesize and Teach series. Aaron tweets at @WilkesHistory

Alex Fairlamb is a Senior Leader in charge of Teaching and Learning and CPD, based in the North East. She is a Specialist Leader in Education and an Evidence Lead in Education. Alex is a proud member of the Historical Association Secondary Committee and the Schools North East Steering Board. Alex is a History teacher and former Lead Practitioner of History and Teaching and Learning, with a strong commitment to ensuring that curriculums are diverse. Her research interests centre on diversity within the curriculum, evidence informed teaching and learning practice within schools, and social justice in education. Alex tweets at @lamb_heart_tea

Becky Carter is a secondary history teacher of 10 years in Nottingham. She has experience of being a mentor for PGCE and SCITT students, and is a current ECT mentor. Becky has spent time working to diversify the school’s KS3 curriculum, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ history alongside running the school’s LGBTQ+ student group. She is a long standing member of the History Teacher Book Club and is keen to include historians’ work in lessons. Becky tweets at @missrcarter89

Dan Lyndon-Cohen has 30 years’ experience in the History Classroom as a teacher, HoD and Lead Practitioner. He is Director of the Schools History Project; author of 8 books on multicultural/migration histories; an education consultant for BBC Bitesize, National Portrait Gallery, Imperial War Museum and Colonial Countryside Project; and Exam constructor and Specification writer for OCR. Dan tweets at @danlyndon

Josh Preye Garry is a Head of Department at Park View School where he champions Decolonization and Anti-Racism within the Curriculum which has led to him receiving a National Diversity Award. He is currently studying an MSc at Oxford University where he is focusing on Teaching & Learning. Josh is a GCSE Examiner and has also written textbooks. His consultancy specialises in Black British History and pre-colonial African Kingdoms. Josh tweets at @JoshPreyeGarry

The publisher would also like to thank Dr Stella Moss (Royal Holloway, University of London), Vicky Iglikowski-Broad (Principal Records Specialist: Diverse Histories at The National Archives), Beckie Rutherford (University of Warwick), Tony Stevens (Disability Rights UK), Dr Ayshah Johnston (Black Cultural Archives), Arthur Torrington (Windrush Foundation), Rosa Legeno-Bell (Diverse History UK) and Dr Justin Bengry (Centre for Queer History at Goldsmiths, University of London) for their valuable input into this project. We are also extremely grateful for all the support and guidance from the People’s History Museum, Manchester, particularly in shaping the Disability Rights chapter.

Further reading and support:

83% of schools surveyed report having made substantial changes to their Key Stage 3 curriculum in recent years to address issues of inclusivity and diversity. Read the Historical Association Secondary Survey
Sign up for free digital inspection copies of OUP’s new KS3 History Depth Studies including Fight for Rights

31. African Kingdoms: Enrich your KS3 History curriculum

By Oxford Education | March 7, 2023

Aaron Wilkes, Katie Amery and Teni Gogo discuss how effective teaching of African Kingdoms can enrich your Key Stage 3 curriculum.

What do students gain from studying African Kingdoms at KS3? How has historical scholarship on African Kingdoms changed in recent years? What is the impact of new research on how we should teach the topic?

Aaron, Katie and Teni answer these questions and offer advice to teachers thinking of introducing West African Kingdoms into their curriculum.

Aaron Wilkes has over 20 years’ experience working in schools as a teacher, department, and faculty leader. He also works with the PGCE History trainees at the University of Warwick. In addition to the classroom, Aaron is also one of the leading history authors in school publishing and his KS3 History series, now in fourth edition and published by Oxford University Press, is currently the best-selling KS3 History textbook series/online package in the UK. Aaron is also Series Editor/co-author of OUP’s NEW KS3 Depth Studies: The British Empire, African Kingdoms, Fight for Rights, and Migration Nation. He is the Series Editor/co-author of OUP’s KS4 History textbooks which match the AQA and Edexcel GCSE History specification and is involved with the BBC as an Educational Consultant for their Bitesize and Teach series. Aaron tweets at @WilkesHistory

Katie Amery has more than 15 years’ experience working in schools as a History and Politics teacher and department leader. She is also currently the subject lead for History Initial Teacher Training at Liverpool Hope University. Katie is passionate about curriculum diversity and working with fellow historians to promote cutting-edge thinking including with Toby Green. Katie is a keen blogger @educationalimposters and tweets at @KatieAmery

Teni Gogo is a History Teacher who has spent much of her career exploring medieval African Kingdoms and Black British History. She is currently a Postgraduate student at the University of Oxford as an Action Research Fellow for the Empire, Migration and Belonging Project. Teni tweets at @tenigogo_

The publisher would also like to thank Professor Anne Haour and Toby Green for their valuable input into this project.

Further reading and support:

· 83% of schools surveyed report having made substantial changes to their Key Stage 3 curriculum in recent years to address issues of inclusivity and diversity. Read the Historical Association Secondary Survey

· Sign up for free samples and updates on OUP’s new KS3 History Depth Study series

View Transcript

30. British Empire: Enrich your KS3 History curriculum

By Oxford Education | February 1, 2023

Aaron Wilkes and Shalina Patel discuss how effective teaching of the British Empire can enrich your Key Stage 3 curriculum. What do students gain from studying the British Empire? How has historical scholarship on the British Empire changed in recent years? What is the impact of new research on how we should teach the topic?

Aaron and Shalina answer these questions and offer advice to teachers concerned about teaching sensitive or potentially contentious topics as part of studying the British Empire, for example Partition.

Aaron Wilkes has over 20 years’ experience working in schools as a teacher, department, and faculty leader. He also works with the PGCE History trainees at the University of Warwick. In addition to the classroom, Aaron is also one of the leading history authors in school publishing and the series which bears his name (KS3 History by Aaron Wilkes), published by Oxford University Press, is currently one of the best-selling KS3 History textbook series/online packages in the UK. Aaron is also Series Editor/co-author of OUP’s NEW KS3 Depth Studies: British Empire, African Kingdoms, Fight for Rights, and Migration Nation. He is the Series Editor/co-author of OUP’s KS4 History textbooks which match the AQA and Edexcel GCSE History specification, and is involved with the BBC as an Educational Consultant for their Bitesize and Teach series. Aaron tweets at @WilkesHistory

Shalina Patel has over 13 years of experience in the classroom and is former Head of History and currently Head of Teaching and Learning and leader of the ITT programme at Claremont High School Academy in London. In 2018 Shalina won the Silver Pearson Teaching Award for Outstanding Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School and in 2021 won the GG2 Inspire Award. She has been featured in publications such as the Guardian and The Times and on programmes like Radio 4’s Three Pounds in my Pocket, BBC Woman’s Hour and BBC’s Teach Me A Lesson podcast. Shalina showcases her passion for hidden histories via @thehistorycorridor Instagram account and her first book will be published in 2023/4. Shalina tweets at @Ms_PatelHistory

25: Talking about race, racism and empowerment with Laura Henry-Allain MBE

By Oxford Education | November 18, 2021

Laura Henry-Allain

In this episode of Diversifying Reading with Shareen Wilkinson, Shareen talks to Laura Henry-Allain MBE about the Lit in Colour research and diversifying children’s publishing, why we need to talk to children about race in school and at home, and how to be anti-racist.

Laura Henry-Allain MBE is an award-winning international writer, speaker and consultant. She is the creator of the well-loved CBeebies characters JoJo and Gran Gran as well as the series’ associate producer. She is also executive producer on a few shows that are currently in development. She is the vice-president of the British Association for Early Childhood Education, and is an educational consultant for several well-known brands as well as children’s media, television and publishing.

Laura’s new children’s book, My Skin, Your Skin, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu, explores race and racism, and empowers children to be the best versions of themselves.

Laura tweets at @LauraHAllain

Further reading and support:

Read more about the Lit in Colour research and find out what we’re doing at OUP to support the initiative, including lots of practical tips for your school.
My Skin, Your Skin, written by Laura Henry-Allain and illustrated by Onyinye Iwu.
The Early Years Blacklist
Supporting you to Raise Antiracist Children, written by Laura Henry-Allain and Emma Worrollo for Mattel Play Room, 2020.

24: Diversifying the curriculum with Daniel Fenwick

By Oxford Education | November 4, 2021

In this episode of Diversifying Reading with Shareen Wilkinson, Shareen talks to Deputy Headteacher Daniel Fenwick about his involvement with Penguin and The Runnymede Trust’s Lit in Colour initiative and the steps that his school have taken to teach a wider range of texts.

Daniel Fenwick is the Deputy Head and English Coordinator at St Wilfrid’s Primary School. He has a real passion for English and one of his favourite things to do is to read stories to children of all ages. He’s a father to two young children and loves reading stories to them, particularly before bed.

Further reading and support:

Read more about the Lit in Colour research and find out what we’re doing at OUP to support the initiative.
Download our free Getting Started Guide to diversifying literature in your school.
Penguin’s (in)complete book lists

23. Diversity in children’s books with Darren Chetty

By Oxford Education | October 21, 2021

In this episode of Diversifying Reading with Shareen Wilkinson, Shareen talks to Darren Chetty about his involvement with Penguin and The Runnymede Trust’s Lit in Colour initiative. They talk about why it’s important for all children to have access to a representative range of books, as well as ideas to support parents.

Darren Chetty is a Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education and has taught in London primary schools for twenty years. His research focuses on philosophy for children, multiculturalism and racism. Among his many books, columns and articles, he is the author of ‘You Can’t Say That! Stories Have to be About White People’ an essay in The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla. Darren tweets at @rapclassroom

Further reading and support:

Read more about the Lit in Colour research and find out what we’re doing at OUP to support the initiative, including lots of practical tips and reading recommendations to share with parents.
Penguin’s (in)complete book lists
The Good Immigrant: 21 writers reflect on race in contemporary Britain edited by Nikesh Shukla (2017)
Reflecting Realities Survey of Ethnic Representation in Children’s Literature CLPE November 2021
Critical Philosophy of Race and Education edited by Judith Suissa and Darren Chetty (2021)
Secret Gardens: A Study of the Golden Age of Children’s Literature by Humphrey Carpenter (2009)
‘Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors’ by Rudine Sims Bishop in Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom. Vol. 6, no. 3, Summer 1990. (PDF)
Darren’s ‘Beyond the Secret Garden‘ column in Books for Keeps
Musical Truth: A musical history of modern black Britain in 28 songs by Jeffrey Boakye (2021)