In this episode, our host Carmel is joined by best‑selling author Kate Mosse and Assistant Headteacher and ESIS History Chair Sasha Smith to examine representation, inclusion, and meaningful reform in schools. Anchored by the release of the Curriculum Review Report, the End Sexism in Schools Report, and Kate Mosse’s A Feminist History for Every Day of the Year, the conversation explores how curriculum choices shape who is seen, whose stories are told, and what actions drive real change.

Together we explore the challenges of a male‑dominated curriculum, highlight overlooked women’s stories, and share practical strategies and resources for teachers. The conversation emphasises intersectionality, resilience, and the importance of systemic change, while celebrating the growing movement among educators to make history more inclusive and relevant for all students.

Highlights

• Why seeing women across the curriculum changes what girls imagine is possible and what all students understand about the past.
• Key findings from the End Sexism in Schools report: widespread absence of named women in lessons and across subject specifications.
• Practical classroom approaches: weave women into existing topics; re-examine power beyond rulers; use material culture and local examples; expand source bases to reveal “hidden” female voices.
• The role of resilience in women’s stories and how those narratives can empower students to act.
• Green shoots: teachers already teaching lesser-known women; free resources available from Reteach; ongoing conversations with exam boards and historians about reform.

Resources & Links

• Reteach Resources: free, national‑curriculum‑aligned, ready‑to‑teach materials that introduce fresh perspectives and promote diverse voices.
• End Sexism in Schools: The Great History Heist report and curriculum mapping exposing women’s underrepresentation in KS3 history and offering suggested named women, topic‑aligned role examples, classroom prompts and downloadable resources for teachers
• Kate Mosse: A Feminist History for Every Day of the Year. A classroom-friendly entries and essays for discussion.

Books discussed

• A Feminist History for Every Day of the Year – Kate Mosse.
• Warrior Queens and Quiet Revolutionaries – Kate Mosse (referenced for background and classroom uses).

Who this episode is for

History teachers at every career stage, department leaders, curriculum leads, teacher-trainers, parents, and anyone who cares about teaching a fuller, more inclusive past.

📚 For full access to tools, ideas and support: Visit ⁠⁠reteach.org.uk⁠⁠

🔔 Follow us on ⁠⁠X⁠⁠, ⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Instagram⁠