Judith Petterson

Judith Pettersen

Children's Services and Lifelong Learning

Mark Walker

Solidarity Trade Union

Via email

Business Services
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow TW3 4DN
Your contact: Melanie Lang
Direct Line: 020 8583 2641
Fax: 020 8583 2613	Minicom: 020 8583 2618
E-Mail: [email address]
Our ref: FOI/1209/117
Date: 21 January 2010

Dear Mr Walker,

Re: Freedom of Information Request

Thank you for your recent request regarding BNP teachers.

I can confirm the following:

All of Hounslow schools have a policy on race equality. Community cohesion is strong in Hounslow schools and in the borough. Ofsted judges our schools to be generally good at promoting community cohesion and equality of opportunity and tackling discrimination, none has an inadequate judgement. All of our schools monitor racial situations, including extremism, and make appropriate reports to the LA (Local Authority).

Training on these issues is offered and delivered to Headteachers, teachers, newly qualified teachers, teaching assistants and Governors. Many schools have filled in audits on promoting race equality and community cohesion. They celebrate/mark different festivals and events involving pupils from all backgrounds, including Black history month, Gypsy Roma Travellers history month etc., visit different places of worship, address issues of identity, 'Britishness', diversity, stereotyping and racism through Citizenship, RE, Drama and English.

See above.

Although we provide training programmes for school staff available in LAs, many colleges and universities are failing to equip student teachers with the skills and knowledge required to teach in multiethnic schools, including strategies to promote equalities through teaching and learning and how best to tackle stereotyping and respond to racist behaviour (and therefore safeguard pupils). In the recent Ofsted inspection of our service, we achieved an 'Outstanding' grade on promoting equalities and diversity.

Most of the information that is provided in response to Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests will be subject to copyright protection. In most cases the copyright will be owned by The London Borough of Hounslow. However, the copyright in other information may be owned by another person or organisation, as indicated in the information itself.

You are free to use any information supplied for your own use, including for non-commercial research purposes. The information may also be used for the purposes of news reporting. However, any other type of re-use, for example, by publishing the information, using it for marketing purposes or issuing copies to the public will require the permission of the copyright owner.

For information where the copyright is owned by another person or organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their permission.

Should you feel that I have dealt with your request for information inappropriately or failed to take appropriate action within a reasonable timescale please contact the Complaints Team by any of the following methods:

By post to: The Complaints Team

Children's Services and Lifelong Learning

Civic Centre

Lampton Road

Hounslow

TW3 4DN

Telephone: 020 8583 2600

Email: [email address]

Fax: 020 8583 2613

Should you remain dissatisfied following the review under the complaints procedure I would advise you that you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner under Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Contact details for the Information Commissioner are as follows:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Fax: 01625 524 510
DX 20819

The Information Commissioner has also produced a guide "Your Right to know: how to complain" which is available from the publications line on 08453 091091 or www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk <http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk> "

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Yours sincerely,

Melanie Lang

Melanie Lang

CSLL Information Services Manager