After two years of dedication and hard work, the Global and Anti-Racist Perspectives (GARP) manual is finished. The idea for the manual came from a sense of frustration among a group of teachers in Nottingham at the lack of recognition of these perspectives within the National Curriculum and the QCA schemes of work for Foundation, KS1 and 2. The resulting resource, designed by teachers for teachers, is realistic, practical and easy to use. The purpose of the project was to demonstrate that global and anti-racist perspectives can and should be integrated into daily teaching and learning activities, in the course of delivering the National Curriculum, National Literacy Strategy and National Numeracy Strategy.  

The basis for the work embodied the following principles:

• The cultural diversity of Britain and the world should be reflected across the curriculum

• The achievements of individuals and cultures are universal and not only Western

• All children need to be able to talk about and challenge unfair generalisations and racism as well as to examine prejudices and different perspectives.

The manual contains a curriculum map for the whole of the Primary National Curriculum, matched to QCA Units, which identifies Global and Anti-racist Perspectives within each one. It also includes a list of suggested resources and websites to support teachers with the inclusion of those perspectives. In addition, there are sections containing case studies of work successfully trialled in Nottingham schools, bright ideas, advice on how to avoid reinforcing stereotypes, information for global linking, working with artists and a list of educational suppliers, along with a forward by Doreen Lawrence OBE.

This extensive resource, developed by teachers in Nottingham, is a must for any primary school. The folder shows in great detail how a global perspective can be included within every subject of the primary curriculum. There are sections for every subject, beginning with an introductory overview of links to global perspectives. This is followed by a detailed framework showing resources and ideas for each QCA unit of work within the England National Curriculum. The folder also includes ideas for assemblies and working with artists, and dozens of case studies ideas from schools.