History lessons 'becoming a thing of the past' (UK)

History is becoming an endangered subject as growing numbers of children drop the subject at 14, according to Ofsted, the education watchdog.

Less than a third of pupils study GCSE history, meaning few learn about important historical themes when they are "mature enough" to do so.

In a critical report published today, inspectors said pupils were being driven away because of overloaded timetables and lessons that were often dumbed down.

"Ofsted insisted the curriculum focused on a "relatively small number of issues with pupils failing to make connections between different periods or answering the "big questions" thrown up by the past.

The report also said the Government's drive to promote so-called "Britishness" was being undermined by lessons that focus too strongly on England while shunning Scotland, Wales and Ireland.