The Black Curriculum
The Black Curriculum is a UK social enterprise founded in 2019 that delivers Black British history education to schools, educators, and young people through a subscription-based digital learning portal, youth programmes, teacher training, and partnerships with cultural institutions like Spotify, DK Books, and the Barbican.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Black Curriculum does
The Black Curriculum is a UK-registered social enterprise (Companies House No. 12033713) founded in 2019 that delivers Black British history education to schools, educators, and young people across the United Kingdom and select international markets. The organization operates four primary product lines: (1) the TBC Learning Resources Portal, a subscription-based digital platform providing curriculum-aligned lesson plans for Key Stage 1 through Key Stage 3; (2) youth curriculum programmes including the Springboard Programme (ages 11–16), the National Ambassador Scheme accredited by ASDAN (ages 14–18), and the Young Champions research programme (ages up to 25); (3) educator and school training, comprising teacher professional development, curriculum audits, and anti-racism programmes; and (4) supporting media and content products including the Sounds of Black Britain podcast in partnership with Spotify, a three-book series co-published with DK Books, and short films such as "Omitted" and "Lost Land Girl." The organization also runs an annual Anti-Racism in the Curriculum Conference.
The Black Curriculum generates revenue across five streams: subscription fees for the Learning Resources Portal (individual educators at £40/month or £200 one-time; whole-school at £500/month or £2,000 one-time), professional training and consulting services booked directly via email, merchandise and book sales through an e-commerce shop, ticket revenue from conferences and film screenings, and donations (recurring and one-time). Distribution combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce, self-serve digital subscriptions, direct institutional sales to schools and universities, and marketplace distribution via FutureLearn and Spotify. The go-to-market motion is hybrid, combining community-led engagement with schools and councils, direct sales to institutional buyers, and event-driven demand generation through conferences and cultural partnerships with institutions including the V&A, Barbican, Royal Opera House, British Museum, FutureLearn, and Spotify.
The organization is founder-led by Lavinya Stennett (CEO), with a 15-person team headquartered in London. It has reported partnerships with over 500 primary, secondary and international schools, 12+ UK councils, and outreach to more than 15,000 teachers, alongside international work in Wales (DARPL), Dubai (international schools), and a March 2026 endorsement from Ghana's Diaspora Affairs Office. The business has expanded its product surface steadily since founding, adding the DK Books series (2022), the Sounds of Black Britain podcast (Spotify partnership), and the annual Anti-Racism in the Curriculum Conference, while expanding distribution to the Barbican Shop for a June–September 2026 exhibition window. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, or acquisition history.
The Black Curriculum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Black Curriculum
- Legal name
- The Black Curriculum
- Website
- https://theblackcurriculum.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Black Curriculum is a UK social enterprise founded in 2019 that delivers Black British history education to schools, educators, and young people through a subscription-based digital learning portal, youth programmes, teacher training, and partnerships with cultural institutions like Spotify, DK Books, and the Barbican.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Black Curriculum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cultural Education and Curriculum Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- K–12 Digital Curriculum & Interactive Lessons (EDAGAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Standards Alignment & Curriculum Mapping (State/National) (EDAJAFAD)
Keywords
Where The Black Curriculum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Black Curriculum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Learning Resources Portal Subscription: Subscription-based access to digital curriculum resources and lesson plans for schools and individual educators. Individual plans at £40/month for 5 months or £200 one-time; Whole-school plans at £500/month for 4 months or £2,000 one-time.
- Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of apparel (t-shirts at £15, hoodies at £25) and educational books (£9.99 each) through the online shop. Books include Legacies: Black British Pioneers, Migration: Journeys through Black British History, Places: Important Sites in Black British History, and A Taste of Home.
- Professional Training Services: Teacher training, school workshops, corporate anti-racism training, and university programmes delivered directly to institutional clients. Pricing varies by engagement scope.
- Donations: Accepts recurring monthly donations and one-time donations from supporters. Donations fund youth programmes, staff employment, and resource development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Individual teacher/Home Educator plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | Whole-School plan |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel - T-shirts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel - Hoodies |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Books |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Conference Tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Film Screening Tickets |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Black Curriculum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Black Curriculum delivers Black British history education through a digital Learning Resources Portal hosting curriculum-aligned lesson plans for KS1–KS3+, alongside youth programmes, educator training workshops, anti-racism in education conferences, a podcast series, and a published book series. The organisation partners with schools, local councils, universities, and cultural institutions across the UK to embed Black history into the national curriculum, while also running community-rooted youth leadership schemes such as the National Ambassador Scheme and the Springboard Programme.
Product overview
The Black Curriculum is an international institute focused on reparatory justice through reimagining Black history, arts and culture in education. Its product portfolio consists of two integrated pillars: (1) a digital Learning Resources Portal delivering curriculum-aligned lesson plans for KS1–KS3, and (2) a suite of youth and educator programmes including the Youth Curriculum Programmes, Springboard Programme, National Ambassador Scheme (NAS), and Young Champions Programme. These are supported by content sub-brands — the Sounds of Black Britain podcast (Spotify), the TBC Book Series (DK Books), TBC Zines, and Black British History Animations — alongside teacher training and anti-racism curriculum audits. The portfolio is distributed through the TBC Learning Resources Portal (individual teacher and whole-school subscription tiers) and a Shopify-based merchandise store selling apparel and books.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Springboard Programme: National arts-based programme teaching young people aged 11-16 Black British history through the lens of music, art, and spoken word.
- National Ambassador Scheme (NAS)
- Young Champions Programme
- TBH365
- Sounds of Black Britain Podcast
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 500 schools served with programmes
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Black Curriculum
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Black Curriculum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Black Curriculum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Ghana Diaspora Affairs OfficecoreOfficial endorsement from the Diaspora Affairs Office of the President of Ghana recognizing The Black Curriculum's work in advancing Black history education and strengthening connections between Africa and the global African diaspora.
- V&AcoreCultural institution partnership showcasing Black history and culture through exhibitions and events.
- FutureLearncoreOnline learning platform hosting The Black Curriculum's free teacher training course on teaching Black British history.
- Nando'sminorRestaurant chain supporting The Black Curriculum's International Women's Day Dinner for Black women in STEM.
- M&SminorRetail partner supporting The Black Curriculum's educational initiatives.
- Into FilmcoreFilm education organization partnership for events including Lost Land Girl film screening with post-show Q&A.
- Royal Opera HousecoreCultural partnership including Flower Power Family Sunday event exploring Black British history through opera and ballet.
- Chelsea FCminorFootball club partnership supporting educational initiatives around Black history.
- Cardiff UniversitycorePartnership to develop English and Drama learning packs about Butetown/Tiger Bay history mapped to Curriculum for Wales, drawing on materials from Glamorgan Archives.
- SpotifycorePodcast distribution partnership hosting the Sounds of Black Britain podcast series exploring Black British music history.
- DK BookscorePublishing partnership producing three books: Legacies: Black British Pioneers, Migration: Journeys through Black British History, and Places: Important Sites in Black British History.
- DARPL (Wales)flagshipFlagship collaboration in Wales on Diverse Anti-Racist Professional Learning with learning materials and training leading meaningful change across the region.
- Barbican CentrecoreCultural partnership bringing The Black Curriculum merchandise to the Barbican Shop as part of Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica exhibition (June-September 2026).
- PapierminorPartner supporting International Women's Day Dinner for Black women in STEM.
- LushminorPartner supporting International Women's Day Dinner for Black women in STEM.
- Pillsbury LawminorPartner supporting International Women's Day Dinner for Black women in STEM.
- Drip WaterminorPartner supporting International Women's Day Dinner for Black women in STEM.
- British MuseumminorCultural institution partnership for educational content and events.
- Mission 44minorCharitable foundation partnership supporting educational initiatives.
- Impact on Urban HealthminorHealth foundation partnership supporting educational work.
- Mayor of LondonminorLondon government partnership supporting Black history integration in schools.
- Off-WhiteminorFashion brand collaboration with British Vogue supporting The Black Curriculum.
- British VogueminorMedia partnership featuring The Black Curriculum in editorial coverage.
- Royal African SocietyminorPartnership for African Kingdoms events exploring approaches to teaching African history in schools.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Black Curriculum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Twinkl: Major UK educational publishing platform offering subscription-based digital teaching resources across all K-12 subjects; broad incumbent that competes for the same school subscription budget as TBC's Learning Resources Portal.
- BBC Bitesize: Free UK-curriculum-aligned digital learning platform covering all K-4 subjects; broad incumbent offering supplementary content that could include or compete with TBC's curriculum-aligned materials.
Others
- Into Film: UK film education charity partnering with TBC on co-developed screenings and educational resources; an adjacent peer in school-based cultural learning rather than direct competition.
- Runnymede Trust: UK independent race-equality think tank producing research and policy work on racial justice in education; thematic peer operating in adjacent policy/research space rather than direct curriculum delivery.
- Black Cultural Archives: UK heritage institution dedicated to collecting, preserving and celebrating Black British history; adjacent cultural-ecosystem peer rather than direct curriculum competitor, but thematically aligned.
- FutureLearn: UK-based online learning platform hosting TBC's teacher training course; adjacent partner/distributor rather than direct competitor, but operates in the same digital professional-development space.
- National Education Union: UK teaching union providing CPD, training and equity-related programmes for educators; adjacent peer in the teacher professional-development ecosystem that overlaps with TBC's educator training mission.
Direct peers
- Facing History and Ourselves: International non-profit providing classroom-ready resources, lesson plans and teacher professional development focused on confronting racism, antisemitism and injustice — directly comparable content and pedagogical model.
- Show Racism the Red Card: UK anti-racism education charity delivering teacher training, workshops and educational resources to schools — directly overlapping with TBC's anti-racism training, school workshops and youth programmes.
- Black History Month UK: UK organisation dedicated to promoting Black history in education through resources, events and campaigns — directly comparable mission and educational resource focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Black Curriculum social profiles
Digital presenceThe Black Curriculum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Black Curriculum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Black Curriculum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Black Curriculum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Black Curriculum
What does The Black Curriculum do?
The Black Curriculum delivers Black British history education through a digital Learning Resources Portal hosting curriculum-aligned lesson plans for KS1–KS3+, alongside youth programmes, educator training workshops, anti-racism in education conferences, a podcast series, and a published book series. The organisation partners with schools, local councils, universities, and cultural institutions across the UK to embed Black history into the national curriculum, while also running community-rooted youth leadership schemes such as the National Ambassador Scheme and the Springboard Programme.
Is The Black Curriculum a public or private company?
The Black Curriculum is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Black Curriculum founded?
The Black Curriculum was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Black Curriculum based?
The Black Curriculum is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Black Curriculum make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Learning Resources Portal Subscription is the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales, professional Training Services and donations.
Who are The Black Curriculum's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Twinkl and BBC Bitesize. Others are Into Film, Runnymede Trust, Black Cultural Archives, FutureLearn and National Education Union. Direct peers are Facing History and Ourselves, Show Racism the Red Card and Black History Month UK.
Does The Black Curriculum have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Black Curriculum.
What industry is The Black Curriculum in?
The Black Curriculum's product category is Cultural Education and Curriculum Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAEAA, K–12 Digital Curriculum & Interactive Lessons, with a secondary code of EDAJAFAD, Standards Alignment & Curriculum Mapping (State/National). Its NAICS code is 61 and its SIC code is 8200.