Leading article: History lessons

The Government's decision to enhance the profile of history in secondary schools is to be welcomed. Ministers see their decision to set up an inquiry into how history can be used to teach 14- to 16-year-olds about British cultural and social values as essential in promoting understanding in an increasingly multi-ethnic society. They are right to do so. It is wrong that, for many youngsters, history lessons stop at 14 with no requirement for them to learn even about recent British history.