Robert Jenrick has urged every school to teach children about the Battle of Britain and issued a warning over “neglecting” our history after a new poll revealed a startling two in three young Britons “don’t know” what it is.
The poll, commissioned by the Shadow Justice Secretary and conducted by FindOutNow on September 11, shows 64 per cent of Britons under 40 couldn’t link the Battle of Britain to the RAF’s defence of the UK against Nazi Germany in 1940.
The polling also shows that 44 per cent of all Britons “didn’t know” the UK won the monumental Second World War aerial battle.
As the country celebrates the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain today, Mr Jenrick has called for a change to the national curriculum so that every child can learn about Britain’s heroic triumph and end “a crisis of national self-confidence”.
He argues the move would be necessary for the wartime generation’s “example to live on as a source of inspiration for future generations”.
Currently, the teaching of the battle and the history of the welfare state are optional for teachers to cover in lessons.
Only a few critical events, such as the holocaust, are mandatory for schools to cover.
Despite a poor showing by younger Britons, more than 80 per cent of those over 65 do know what the Battle of Britain refers to.
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Robert Jenrick has called for a change to the national curriculum
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The new poll commissioned by Robert Jenrick MP shows that two-thirds of under-40s don’t know what the Battle of Britain is
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In his latest video, Mr Jenrick flies a Spitfire, the plane used during the triumph, at Biggin Hill to mark the 85th anniversary of the battle.
“For too long our history has been neglected,” Mr Jenrick said.
“We have allowed our past to become a source of shame, even as the rest of the world still looks to us with admiration.
“It’s hardly surprising we have a crisis of national self-confidence when our past achievements aren’t properly taught in schools.
Mr Jenrick was treated to a ride in a Spitfire at Biggin Hill to mark the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain
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“Every child growing up should learn about the Battle of Britain and the heroics of the wartime generation.
“Their example must live on as a source of inspiration for future generations.”
In addition to the age split, the polling also showed a difference in knowledge between the sexes, with a total of 76 per cent of men knowing what the Battle of Britain is, compared to just 36 per cent of women.
Staggeringly, some six per cent of 18-29-year-olds thought the Battle of Britain referred to William the Conqueror’s 1066 victory at the Battle of Hastings.
Spitfires – like the one seen here – helped secure Britain’s victory against the Nazis
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Robert Jenrick said ‘it’s hardly surprising we have a crisis of national self-confidence when our past achievements aren’t properly taught in schools’
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The findings follow a YouGov survey earlier in the year, which found just 11 per cent of Gen Z said they would fight for Britain.
The study also revealed that half of young adults think the UK is stuck in the past.
Only 15 per cent of Gen Z believe the country is united, compared to nearly 60 per cent who held this view in 2004.
Half of Generation Z believe Britain is a racist country, with 48 per cent of 18 to 27-year-olds holding this view according to the research.
