Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Medieval History in Schools

04 July 2022 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Alexander Stafford Con Rother Valley

Education

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Alexander Stafford raised concerns about medieval history in schools in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • The MP argued for the inclusion of medieval history in school curricula, citing key periods like Anglo-Saxon settlement and Viking invasions.
  • The Minister acknowledged the importance of teaching medieval history and noted that the current curriculum already includes significant periods such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norman conquest.
  • The Minister mentioned upcoming initiatives, including a model history curriculum, aimed at enhancing the teaching of history in schools.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Alexander Stafford Con Rother Valley

The MP argued for the importance of teaching medieval history in schools, noting its neglect and detailing key historical periods such as Anglo-Saxon settlement, Viking invasions, the black death, and crusades. He highlighted examples from his constituency's rich medieval past and emphasised the relevance of this period to understanding contemporary issues like political relations and social inequality. The speech advocated for changes to the curriculum to include a more comprehensive study of medieval history.

Other contributors (1)
  • Member for Surrey Heath Con Michael Gove

    The Member praised Alexander Stafford's insights on medieval history and its importance in education.

Government Response

Robin Walker

The Minister congratulated the lead MP for his passion and knowledge, endorsing the need to improve teaching of medieval history. He affirmed that the current curriculum already includes significant periods such as Anglo-Saxons and the Norman conquest, with opportunities to teach pre-1066 events. The response highlighted various resources and ongoing initiatives supporting high-quality history education, including a forthcoming model history curriculum aimed at exemplifying broad and knowledge-rich teaching from key stages 1 to 3.

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