Sadiq Khan today launched a new curriculum for London to give pupils at up to 1,800 primary schools an insight into the history and culture of their capital.
The new “Going Underground” unit on the London curriculum, which was first brought in by former mayor Boris Johnson for secondary schools, will be available for the first time to all primary head teachers to run alongside the national one.
Pupils will be able to explore the secrets of the London Underground, hidden rivers, dungeons, wartime bunkers and Roman houses, as well as the Tube’s art and poetry programmes.
Schools signed up to the curriculum, backed by the Mayor’s Fund charity and the BeOpen Foundation, will also be given access to trips to the Houses of Parliament, the Natural History Museum and Guildhall Art Gallery and Amphitheatre.
The Mayor said: “London has been shaped throughout time by people who have come from around the world to make this city their home — from the Romans onwards. Our history and culture is a truly global one, so what better way for primary school children to learn than directly from London’s museums, art galleries and other fascinating institutions?”
Since its launch by Mr Johnson in 2014, a total of 321 secondary schools have signed up to the programme.
Mr Khan has appointed his offi- cial deputy, Joanne McCartney, to oversee education in the capital, even though the Mayor has no formal responsibilities.
