Year Four British Black History Month

In Year Four, we have been honouring the Black Britons that have made our country great. We have been learning about the hardships they have endured in the face of racism, as well as the determination and bravery each showed as they worked hard to accomplish phenomenal achievements. 

Some children chose to focus on Mary Seacole, a nurse who despite poverty and racism healed soldiers in the Crimean War. 

Some students highlighted the double discrimination faced by black women athletes in England, celebrating those such as Althea Gibson and Wilma Rudolph. 

This student chose to honour Frederick Aldridge, one of the first Black actors to achieve international success and appear on screen. 

John Edmonstone was born into slavery, but became the teacher of Charles Darwin. He deserves as much fame as Charles Darwin, as without his contribution we would not know many key facts about geology and biology. 

Finally, this student focussed on the brave activist Olive Morris, the founder of the Black Panthers in Britain who died tragically at 27. She achieved much in her short years, fighting for equality for women and Black Britons. You can visit her house in Brixton, named after her for her achievements. 

All year four classes now feel they better understand issues of race in Britain. 

 'I now understand that Black Britains had to fight to have the same rights white people do.' Riddhi says. 

In year four, we make sure we provide a rich reading curriculum from a range of perspectives. We realise the diversity of our class is what makes us great, and provide our children with books that help them learn about people like themselves, or others in the class.