Teacher CPD: South Asians in Britain

Join us in-person at the Library for a free CPD event for History and English teachers featuring the new digital learning resource, South Asians in Britain, 1830s-present. At the event you will be introduced to oral histories, archival materials and pathways to bring to life the rich and diverse ways South Asians have shaped Britain’s culture, economy, politics and society over the centuries.

We'll explore innovative ways of teaching and learning about South Asians in Britain, especially in English and History at KS3–5.

Extraordinary stories of South Asian changemakers

From 19th-century seafarers who opened cafés and lodging houses, to ayahs – known as ‘nurses of ocean highways’ – who cared for families travelling from India to Britain; from trailblazers such as Sophia Duleep Singh, an early women’s suffrage campaigner and goddaughter of Queen Victoria, to activists like Jayaben Desai, who fought for workers’ rights in the 1970s – this event allows you to explore the extraordinary stories of South Asian changemakers throughout British history and how to bring them to life for school audiences.

Free digital hub of resources

The learning resources are connected to a ground-breaking digital hub South Asian Britain: Connecting Histories, featuring over 750 entries, digitised archival materials, oral histories, and educational resources. This event offers a unique chance to explore and connect with these inspiring stories.

This event is a collaboration between the British Library Learning team and the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded project, ‘Remaking Britain: South Asian Connections and Networks, 1830s – Present’ (AH/X001520/1), a partnership between the University of Bristol, Queen Mary University of London and the British Library.