An exam board whose GCSE textbook on the Arab-Israeli conflict has run into repeated controversy is replacing it with a new digital alternative.

Pearson, the only exam board in England to offer an option in the topic at GCSE and iGCSE, is collaborating with a charity that has specialised in teaching it, Parallel Histories.

The charity, founded by history teacher Michael Davies, explores events from both the Israeli and Palestinian points of views and has been developing online resources for a number of years.

Sharon Hague, managing Director of Pearson School Qualifications, said: “We are the only exam board to support the teaching of this topic at GCSE level and we want to encourage more young people to learn about this important period of history.”

The new approach “will encourage students to examine first-hand evidence, develop critical thinking skills and form their own opinions using open discussion in the classroom,” she said.

The partnership, Mr Davies said, aimed “to deliver resources that will equip students to analyse the history of the Middle East from differing perspectives, acknowledging that historical events are often interpreted differently by different historians and communities.

“We believe that the best way to learn controversial topics in history is through engagement with the source materials and through debate in the classroom and we are excited to be working with Pearson to promote this approach to teaching the history of the Middle East.”

The new digital resources, which will come on stream this September, will replace the printed textbook Conflict in the Middle East c1945-1995 and its companion volume for iGCSE.

The textbook was withdrawn and revised after complaints from the Board of Deputies and UK Lawyers for Israel.

But the updated edition was pulled by the publisher last year when a pro-Palestinian group objected that it had become too favourable to Israel.

Pearson said it had turned to Parallel Histories after discussions with leading historians, teachers and advocacy groups.

Last year there were just 27 schools in England who took the Israel option at GCSE.

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