Teenagers will learn British history in new-style classes which put understanding core British values at the heart of Citizenship teaching. Education Secretary Alan Johnson today said he accepted the key recommendation of a major independent report that a strong focus on understanding our history was essential to building community cohesion. He believes it is vital that children learn about events and themes which have shaped the country we are today, including Commonwealth, Empire and universal suffrage.

Mr Johnson said: "I welcome Sir Keith's report and want schools to play a leading role in creating greater community cohesion. By helping children continue to understand difference, schools can make a difference. Young people need to be engaged in this important debate because the values our children learn at school will shape the kind of country Britain becomes. I think that this report marks the coming of age of Citizenship as an important part of the national curriculum."

IDENTITY AND DIVERSITY

Following Sir Keith's findings, Mr Johnson proposed a new strand to Citizenship classes that pupils take between 11 and 16. He accepts Sir Keith's key recommendation that there should be a new theme of 'Identity and Diversity: Living together in the UK', with a focus on the historical understanding of issues that shaped British life today and discussing shared values.

The main new elements in Citizenship will be:

* encouraging critical thinking about ethnicity, religion and race, with an explicit link to political issues and values;

* using contemporary history to illustrate thinking on contemporary issues related to citizenship; and

* an understanding of the make-up of the UK, immigration, Commonwealth and Empire, the European Union and extending the franchise.

Mr Johnson will ask the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to include this extra element in Citizenship Education in the revised secondary curriculum proposals they are due to publish and consult on.

Sir Keith Ajegbo, a respected former headteacher, said: "It is the duty of all schools to address issues of 'how we live together' and 'dealing with difference', however difficult and controversial they may seem.

"This report affects schools across the country, regardless of their ethnic make-up and issues have to be dealt with in the context of the school and its neighbourhood. It is important they consider issues that have shaped UK society today and understand them through the lens of history."

The report gives examples of good practice found by the review team and makes recommendations on improvements to teacher training and the curriculum which will aid the way diversity and citizenship are taught.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Mr Johnson also accepted the following key recommendations:

* that pupils should be able to take a full two-year GCSE in Citizenship and also an A level in the subject (Citizenship is the fastest growing GCSE with numbers of pupils taking it increasing by 42%);

* there should be a national "Who we think we are" week which will be the starting point for schools to launch local projects, cultural celebration, debates on identity and values - this would be an annual ongoing event; and

* that schools should be active in "twinning" with other schools of different ethnic, cultural, social and religious backgrounds so children can meet and work together on various activities.

The report also found that many white working class boys and girls have a negative perception of their British identity and can feel as disenfranchised as non-white pupils. It says as much thought and resources needs to be put into providing diversity education to white pupils as to ethnic minority groups.

The report was commissioned after concern about growing extremism and division in society after the London terrorist bombings. The review consisted of interviews with more than 100 stakeholder groups (including Trades Unions, the CRE, the Refugee Council) and visits to dozens of schools in communities up and down the country. Children from a range of ethnic groups were interviewed about what they thought of the citizenship lessons. Keith Ajegbo was headteacher at Deptford Green School, located in a deprived London borough with a large African community.

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