Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher at Michaela Community School in north London, is sounding the alarm about the potential removal of William Shakespeare from English classrooms. As schools face increasing pressure to decolonise their curriculum content, Birbalsingh warns that this could have far-reaching consequences.
Shakespeare's works are currently mandatory on the English literature GCSE and A-level specifications in England, but Birbalsingh fears this may change as schools continue to diversify their curricula. She points to a trend in the US, where Shakespeare is no longer taught in many institutions, and suggests that it could be adopted here too.
Birbalsingh argues that Shakespeare's influence on literature spans over 400 years and his works contain universal ideas that remain highly relevant today. However, she acknowledges that there are valid concerns about the lack of diversity in traditional curricula, which have led to calls for greater representation of black and minority ethnic writers.
The headteacher stressed that her stance is not opposed to including diverse authors, citing her own school's curriculum as an example. A-level English students at Michaela Community School study Andrea Levy's 'Small Island', which Birbalsingh considers an excellent novel.
Birbalsingh's concerns centre on campaigns that seek to remove established literary figures rather than broadening the scope of what is taught. Her stance has sparked debate about the balance between preserving traditional curricula and promoting greater diversity in education.