19 January 2009

Mark Walker

Email:

[FOI #24605 email]

Dear Mr Walker

Freedom of Information Request -BNP Teachers

Thank you for your email which the Learning Trust received via The London Borough of Hackney on 14 December 2009. I acknowledge receipt of your request for information. I should firstly point out that The Learning Trust is not a “public authority” under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the Act”).

The Learning Trust is a private company limited by guarantee which carries out the majority of the functions of Hackney Council as a Local Education Authority under a Contract entered into pursuant to a Direction of the Secretary of State dated 31^st July 2002.

The Learning Trust was incorporated in May 2002 for the sole purpose of carrying out the functions transferred pursuant to that Direction from 1^st August 2002.  There is a power under Section 5 of the Act for the Secretary of State to designate a company such as The Learning Trust as a public authority but to date that power has not been exercised in respect of The Learning Trust.

Consequently, The Learning Trust is not bound by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. However as a body exercising public functions The Learning Trust is committed to doing so openly and transparently.  The Learning Trust has developed a policy which, so far as its constitution allows, complies with the provisions of the Act.

With regard to your request, I have set out The Learning Trust's responses below:

Response to Question 1: There is a range of evidence that can be used in evaluating the effectiveness of equal opportunity policies in protecting children and young people from the promotion of partisan teaching and racist views. Evidence most widely considered are Ofsted inspections and school self evaluations.  These will refer to a range of data gathered in response to measures taken to deliver equality aims.  These measures may include pupil and parental voice, curriculum diversity, analysis of attainment by ethnicity.

Response to Question 2: A senior adviser in The Learning Trust provides guidance and support to schools to in terms of their community cohesion responsibilities and works with headteachers and designated staff in schools to improve Ofsted judgements.

Cohesion is central to the Mayor of Hackney's vision of “balanced, sustainable communities and neighbourhoods, which celebrate our diversity and share in London's growing prosperity and enable a good quality of life for all”. This vision of a cohesive Hackney is set out in Hackney's Sustainable Community Strategy for 2008 - 2018,

There is a good story to tell about cohesion in Hackney. Almost four in five Hackney residents agree that people from different backgrounds get on well together in the area (78%) and this figure has improved by two per cent since 2006/7, in contrast to neighbouring boroughs. Promoting cohesion remains a priority cross-cutting issue. The Learning Trust works in partnership with LB Hackney to improve community cohesion and support people to live together with difference in Hackney.

To successfully fulfil the duty to promote community cohesion, schools are advised to focus on the three key strands (faith, ethnicity and culture, and socio-economic factors) and demonstrate that they understand the context the community the school serves; that it has planned and taken an appropriate set of actions; and through evaluation it is evident that these actions have had an impact.

Hackney is currently conducting a review which examines the full range of cohesion drivers in Hackney including race, faith, age, socio-economic status, disability and sexual orientation. The Terms of Reference for this review can be downloaded from

www.teamhackney.org/thriving-healthy The review is designed to produce a Hackney-definition of cohesion, and strategic recommendations for the London Borough of Hackney, based on sound evidence, the views of stakeholders and comparative experience. The review is likely to include recommendations for LBH's partners in Team Hackney, for discussion with the relevant partners, including The Learning Trust.

The review includes a focus Cohesion and Schools in Hackney: `How can schools

In Hackney contribute to resilience and cohesion in their community?' To address this question, the consultancy is expected to explore three questions:

Case studies of twelve schools (primary, secondary, special, academies and an independent school) and a small-scale study of two primary schools are planned for the Spring Term 2010. An external research organisation won the tender for the small-scale study. Of those schools inspected under the new framework, the majority are achieving good for promoting community cohesion.

Response to Question 3: Currently, there are no schools identified by Ofsted as in special measures. As part of the self evaluation, schools are asked to evaluate how effectively they have promoted equality of opportunity and tackled unlawful discrimination and the extent to which pupils feel safe from different forms of harassment. In addition, many of the measures taken by schools will have been identified as effective by the Department for Children, Schools and Families as good practice in the wider agenda of equality.

Response to Question 4: With respect to maintaining confidence in the teaching profession, The Learning Trust is not aware of any complaints or disciplinary matters in schools over teachers propagating inappropriate political subjects across Hackney. This would be an indicator and measure that would be made aware to the Human Resources Department.

I trust that this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Breda Connolly

Trainee Solicitor and Information Officer

Legal Department

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Our ref: FOI 230

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