Royal societies are urging the Government to make science less “Western” in an overhaul of the school curriculum.

Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, announced an overhaul of the curriculum that explicitly aims to make subjects better reflect the “diversities of our society”.

A committee leading the Department for Education’s curriculum review is currently considering the proposals of Royal societies, teaching unions, and other experts.

Prestigious scientific institutions have supported the call for diversity, and proposed the teaching of more “non-Western” discoveries.

The Royal Society of Biology has advised the committee that children should be taught about “non-Western contributions to the sciences”.

The society has recommended a “no more heroes” approach which avoids “prescriptive lists of historic figures in biology” in favour of “diverse historic and contemporary figures”.