The CBA has responded to the Curriculum and Assessment Review
Why is archaeology in education so important?
Access to diverse educational opportunities empowers young people to think critically, creatively, and compassionately. Archaeology offers a unique interdisciplinary opportunity for students to explore who we are, where we’ve come from, and how we can navigate the challenges of today and tomorrow. By connecting the past to the present, it helps foster understanding, belonging, and innovation.
- It helps students develop skills in problem-solving, evidence evaluation, and collaboration.
- It bridges arts, sciences, and social sciences.
- It provides the tools to help us solve issues such as the climate crisis, social inequality, and more.
- It helps young people connect with diverse stories of identity, community, and adaptation.
The current placement of archaeological education primarily within primary-level history represents a missed opportunity. Archaeology, the study of the emergence of human cultures through material remains, is an inherently interdisciplinary subject, which addresses fundamental questions about the human condition. Intrinsically archaeology is a 'visual' practice - learning through 'seeing'/drawing/handling' - skills that have wide application in media and graphic fields.
- Joint Statement from the British Academy Archaeology Section, the Heritage Alliance, and University Archaeology UK on the 2024–25 Curriculum and Assessment Review
Archaeology isn’t just about uncovering the past — it can be harnessed as a tool for creating a future where young people feel empowered to shape change and connect with the world around them.
