Lewisham National Education Union (NEU) will discuss how to “decolonise” curriculums during an event on the future of schools in the borough.

The virtual event, set for July 8, aims to start a “conversation across the borough on what we want our schools to look like after lockdown”.

Parents, students, and school workers are invited to the discussion, which will cover how to decolonise the curriculum, what should children learn and how, how to make schools greener and more inclusive, and how to work more collaboratively with other schools in the borough.

Decolonising the curriculum entails having more representation from Black and non-Western scholars, fully presenting Britain’s colonial past, as well as providing a better historical awareness of the contexts in which history is written.

A Lewisham NEU spokesperson said: “The Covid-19 crisis has raised important questions about the future of our schools.  

“School workers, parents, and students have worked incredibly hard to make things work but the pandemic has revealed things that need to change and Lewisham NEU want to talk to you about how we are going to change things in our borough. 

“We want students, parents, school workers and the wider community to join us in July to start the wheels turning.” 

Speakers include Cleo Lewis, assistant headteacher at Olive Ap Academy, Thurrock, author and education consultant Phil Beadle, NEU primary teacher and environmentalist Silvia D Barber, and Lewisham school students. 

The Government has allocated £1 billion to a school catch-up programme, aiming to help pupils cover the education they missed out on during lockdown.  

The most disadvantaged pupils will have access to tutors through a £350m programme from September, while primary and secondary schools will get £650m to spend on one-to-one or group tuition for any pupils they think need it. 

Schools are due to fully reopen in September, though concerns remain about safety due to Covid-19. 

The Prime Minister also announced £1 billion for “crumbling schools” in a new 10-year rebuilding programme. 

The funding will be split between 50 projects, according to Boris Johnson, and are due to start next year.  

Further details are expected in the autumn.  

Mr Johnson said as the country comes out of the pandemic “it’s important we lay the foundations for a country where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, with our younger generations front and centre of this mission”.  

Critics say the funding does not cover the full cost of bringing all schools to a “satisfactory” level – in 2017 the National Audit Office said £6.7 billion was needed to do so.