The Key school support organisation has reportedly issued guidance to teachers in the UK that they should present the history of the British Empire similarly to the horrors of Nazi Germany, with a focus on colonialism and exploitation. According to the document obtained by The Telegraph, schools are encouraged to teach colonialism as “invading and exploiting” other countries and to avoid presenting the British Empire as an equal balance of good and bad.
The guidance also suggests that educators should not ignore the problematic views held by historical figures such as Winston Churchill or Mahatma Gandhi, but rather be upfront about their prejudices. Teachers are advised to honour the contributions of Caribbean, African, and Indian soldiers who fought for Britain in both World Wars when the Empire still existed. However, they are instructed to avoid presenting “white saviour narratives,” such as focusing on white abolitionists like William Wilberforce.
The “anti-racist” guidance was introduced under the Conservative government in 2022 and has since been used as an example of best practices for schools by local councils in West Sussex and East Renfrewshire. The Key, founded in 2007, claims to be the leading provider of support for schools and trusts and states that it is trusted by over half of all schools in England.
However, critics argue that this approach distorts history, with Professor Emeritus at Cambridge University Robert Tombs calling the document “blatant propaganda.” The historian said that comparing the British Empire to Nazi Germany while celebrating colonial soldiers who fought for the Empire was a glaring self-contradiction. He further argued that the document ignored the economic development brought about by the Empire, its role in suppressing slavery, and its peacekeeping efforts.
This guidance is part of the broader leftist ideological movement towards “decolonising the curriculum,” which focuses on the negative aspects of British colonialism while downplaying the Empire’s role in abolishing practices like slavery in the Western world. Other targets of this movement include Isaac Newton, Medieval English literature, the theory of evolution, and even tropical viruses.