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Year 10
Edexcel

Local context of Notting Hill

I can describe the conditions in Notting Hill in the 1950s and explain the problems Caribbean migrants faced and initiatives introduced to support them.

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Year 10
Edexcel

Local context of Notting Hill

I can describe the conditions in Notting Hill in the 1950s and explain the problems Caribbean migrants faced and initiatives introduced to support them.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Poverty was a problem across London after the end of the Second World War.
  2. Finding places to work and to live was challenging for Caribbean migrants, with few landlords willing to rent to them.
  3. As a result of a lack of available housing, overcrowding became a huge problem for Caribbean migrants.
  4. Housing was controlled by slum landlords who did nothing to improve living conditions.
  5. Housing associations helped to improve housing in Notting Hill.

Keywords

  • Discrimination - the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people

  • Houses of Multiple Occupation - a single house rented out to multiple people or multiple families, also known as HMOs

Common misconception

Pupils are likely to be unaware that laws protecting UK citizens against discrimination did not start until mid-60s.

Prior to the Race Relations Act 1965, it was possible to discriminate against black people, for example, refuse to serve them. This was extended in 1968 to include discrimination in housing and education.


To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: Local context of Notting Hill, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Explain to pupils that the Race Relations Act 1965 and further laws have been introduced to protect the rights of citizens and to reduce discrimination.
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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
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Supervision

Adult supervision required

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What term did many people in the British colonies use to refer to Britain?
Correct Answer: the ‘Mother Country’, The ‘Mother Country’, the Mother Country, The Mother Country, Mother Country
Q2.
How were the colonies affected during World War Two?
Correct answer: post-war there was a lack of jobs in the colonies
post-war they experienced a booming economy
Correct answer: some Caribbean colonies suffered shortages due to attacks by German submarines
there were many jobs available as people had died serving in the British forces
Q3.
Complete the sentence with the missing number: In the 1950s, the NHS ran recruitment programmes in __________ Commonwealth countries.
Correct answer: 16
3500
1.38 million
Q4.
Why were Caribbean migrants who arrived in Britain between 1948 and 1970 known as the ‘Windrush generation’?
they all came from the town of Windrush
Correct answer: the ship they first arrived on was called the 'Empire Windrush'
the place they arrived in to was called 'Windrush Port'
Q5.
Complete the sentence: are citizens who lived in British colonies or former British colonies who had joined the Commonwealth.
Correct Answer: Commonwealth citizens, commonwealth citizens, Commonwealth Citizens
Q6.
Why was the black community in London not able to fully enjoy the 'Swinging Sixties'?
they did not want to participate
Correct answer: they faced police discrimination
Correct answer: they encountered racism daily
Correct answer: they were offered the lowest-paid jobs
Correct answer: they lived in the worst quality housing

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword describes a single house rented out to multiple people or multiple families?
Correct Answer: Houses of Multiple Occupation, Houses of multiple occupation, houses of multiple occupation, Houses Of Multiple Occupation
Q2.
Why was there a shortage of good quality housing at the end of World War Two (WW2)?
The government had decided to start fresh post-war and knocked all houses down
Correct answer: Many houses were damaged or destoryed during the Blitz
Post-war there was a boom in the number of babies born
Q3.
Why did Caribbean immigrants often settle in Notting Hill?
It was the wealthiest area in London at the time
The Caribbean embassy was located there
Correct answer: A black community already existed there which made them feel safer
Correct answer: It was one of the few areas where landlords accepted black tenants
Q4.
Which Polish landlord exploited Caribbean migrant tenants in Notting Hill in the 1960s?
Peter Jackson
Correct answer: Peter Rachman
Peter Gabriel
Q5.
Complete the sentence: Housing helped to improve housing in Notting Hill.
Correct Answer: associations, Associations
Q6.
How did the 1965 Rent Act help Caribbean migrants?
abolished rent controls
Correct answer: made rents fairer
allowed landlords to have as many HMOs as they wished
Correct answer: prevented landlords from evicting tenants without due process

Additional material

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