Teach pupils about role of British good guys in slavery

SCHOOLS must teach children about the British heroes who helped stop slavery, campaigners have told the Education Secretary.

Pupils are obliged to learn about the Empire, and Britain’s involvement with the slave trade is commonplace on curricula, but there are now calls for the nation’s role in ending slavery to be included in school texts.

Campaigners have called on Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, to ensure schools teach young people about the West African Squadron to balance out courses on the darker episodes of British history.

The Royal Navy unit was funded at great expense to patrol the West African coast in order to suppress the international slave trade after Britain voted for abolition in 1807.

The West Africa Squadron Memorial Fund, whose campaign for a monument in the unit’s honour was backed by Penny Mordaunt and other public figures, has requested that its history be included in the national curriculum.

Writing to Ms Keegan, Colin Kemp, the group’s chairman, said: “The West Africa Squadron undertook ‘the most expensive moral action ever undertaken’ in destroying the Atlantic slave trade between 1807-1867, and yet its actions are not taught as part of the history curriculum.

“Not only should the British lives lost be commemorated but also the unilateral action of Britain in banning slavery and enforcing that ban with our ships, men and money should be celebrated. I sincerely hope you will consider adding the actions of the West Africa Squadron to the UK History curriculum.”

The West Africa or “Preventative” Squadron was established in 1808, one year after the abolition of the slave trade. Its mission was to ensure other nations did not continue the trade Britain had deemed immoral.

It is estimated the operation cost Britain 2 per cent of its GDP, as the country’s 19th century naval dominance was used to police the high seas.

Campaigners have complained in the past that it is not compulsory to teach about the slave trade.