Today in History, Year 6 focused on the reasons why many women in 1911 refused to fill in the national census. The children learned that some women, particularly Suffragettes and Suffragists, believed it was unfair to be counted in a country where they were not allowed to vote. They explored the powerful idea behind the protest slogan: “If women don’t count, neither shall they be counted.”

 

The class discussed the wider fight for women’s rights at the time, including the campaign for equal voting rights and considered why refusing to complete the census was seen as a peaceful but powerful act of protest. The children examined how women may have felt in 1911 — frustrated, determined, brave and hopeful for change.

 

To deepen their understanding, the children created their own 1911 census entries, adding impactful and persuasive slogans to reflect the strength of feeling among campaigners. This helped them to empathise with the challenges women faced and to appreciate the courage it took to stand up for equality.