Allan Crosbie, curriculum leader for English at James Gillespie’s High School in Edinburgh, said that certain novels are “problematical” due to dated representations of race within those texts. He said that it is not what he wants to be teaching third year pupils anymore and that the books will be removed from the curriculum there.

       As reported by The Herald, the school’s aim will be to “decolonise” the curriculum by focusing on material which they feel better represents the ranges of human experience in society.

       Speaking at the EIS union's AGM, Mr Crosbie said: "Probably like every English department in the country, we still have Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird [on] the shelves.

       "They are now taught less frequently because those novels are dated and problematical in terms of decolonising the curriculum.

       "Their lead characters are not people of colour.

       "The representation of people of colour is dated, and the use of the N-word and the use of the white saviour motif in Mockingbird - these have led us as a department to decide that these really are not texts we want to be teaching third year anymore."

       The school will reportedly focus on texts such as Angie Thomas’ award-winning book The Hate U Give, which was written in response to the 2009 shooting of Oscar Grant.

       According to Stephen Kelly, the headteacher of Liberton High in Edinburgh, they want to ensure there is representation for all pupils throughout the curriculum.

       Mr Kelly said: “Our school has become much more diverse, which I think is a good thing. When we present our curriculum if I'm a young black person in my school and I'm looking at the curriculum, be it English, be it history, be it modern studies, be it whatever, do I see myself represented?

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       "So, for us, it's about developing an anti-racist culture that recognises notions of stereotyping, notions of white-centric attitudes, notions of white people being more important, notions of representation."

       However, Mr Kelly explained that he does not necessarily share Mr Crosbie’s intention of banning the novels.

       He added: "I'm not saying that we'd ban To Kill a Mockingbird or Of Mice and Men.

       "But if you were going to teach something around what white saviourism actually is, you might use these books as an example."

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