BNP Teachers

Dear Mr Walker

I acknowledge your request for information received on 03 December.

Your request is being considered and you will receive the information
requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by
the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the information not being
exempt or containing a reference to a third party.

If appropriate, the information may be provided in paper copy, normal font
size. If you require alternative formats, such as, in a different
language, audio or large print, then please let me know.

For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions which may
prevent release of information you have requested. There will be an
assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the
information will not be released. You will be informed if this is the
case, including your rights of appeal.

If the information you request contains a reference to a third party then
they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to
release the information to you. You will be informed if this is the case.

There may be a fee payable for this information. This will be considered
and you will be informed if a fee is payable. If you have any queries or
concerns, then please contact me using the contact details as above.

Yours sincerely

Anneth Davy
Complaints & Quality Officer, Children's Service

London Borough of Barnet, North London Business Park, Bldg 4, Oakleigh
Road South, London N11 1NP
Tel: 020 8359 5730

Fax: 08708 896 799

Barnet Online: [1]www.barnet.gov.uk
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Dear Mr Walker

Request for Information under FOIA

I am writing in respect of your recent enquiry for information held by
Barnet Council under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Please find below the information requested as follows

o The requirement on schools to have equal opportunity policies

Specifically on the point above, until the Equalities Bill becomes
statute, schools must have policies on Race and Gender Equality and a
Disability Scheme. There is no specific requirement for an equal
opportunity policy.

Gender and Race Equality policies and a Disability Scheme are fields
required by the School Self Evaluation Form, which provides information to
OFSTED. Whatever a school states in terms of its compliance with the
respective legislation will be tested by the external inspection
framework.

Furthermore, schools in Barnet have access to a wealth of training, advice
and consultancy from Barnet Council to enable them to fulfil their legal
duties as well as develop their provision and processes.

1) What evidence is there that schools' equal opportunity policies
are effective in combating racism?

Barnet Council are not aware of now of any national research in this
area. We would expect that it is more likely to be practice and process,
i.e. the implementation of policy, rather than the existence of the policy
itself, that makes the difference.

We know of a relatively small study in Kent several years ago that
considered the impact of a classroom-based project on student attitudes to
asylum-seekers and refugees.

We are also aware of several tools for evaluating attitudinal change
within the context of developing global perspectives in the curriculum.

2) What are schools in your area doing to promote racial equality and
promote community cohesion? Examples of measures deemed to be good
practice and recognised as being successful would be useful.

Schools are doing a variety of things to promote race equality and
community cohesion on a daily basis. Several of our schools are applying
for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Quality Mark for Social
Inclusion. One of these is leading a major conference next March for
parents, community members and students and primary schools in its
immediate vicinity.

One of our Infant and Nursery schools is using a planning tool that
ensures all lessons have a global dimension. Another of our primary
schools was featured in a Pan-London research programme for raising
achievement for Somali pupils. Somali pupils in Barnet schools achieve
better national test results at KS2 than any of the other Boroughs that
participated in the study, not least because of the commitment locally to
community cohesion and race equality.

We are also planning a major initiative, with Haringey and Enfield,
targeting pupils and families in receipt of Free School Meals and where
children may be under achieving at school. This will start in January and
will feature a professional conference in May entitled `Breaking the Link'
after the research document recently published by the National
Strategies. The keynote address by Professor Steve Strand of Warwick
University will directly consider how we can act to break the
well-documented links between socio-economic status, gender and race and
educational attainment.

3) Can you provide me with any evidence that the measures listed
above have been effective (if this has not already been done)?

The most effective measures for ensuring Equalities are being addressed is
to ensure there is top quality universal provision for all children in all
of our schools - Every School a Good School for Every Child. This is one
of the Council's major priorities. Barnet schools are well represented at
the top of all the national indicators for school attainment. Barnet
residents also are very positive about the area.

4) Are further measures required to either maintain trust in the
teaching profession or protect children and young people?

In terms of safeguarding children, this is absolutely a major priority.
There is a renewed and vigorous focus on safeguarding within all external
inspection frameworks as well as within the Barnet Children's Service in
our partnership work with schools, communities and parents.

The Council does not control the general professional standards or
proscriptions on teachers' political party membership. This is a matter
for the General Teaching Council of England to resolve and I understand
that the matter of BNP membership is under review. However, Barnet does
have very strong and positive relationships with our schools and we will
support them to resolve any matter that risks compromising parents' and
children's trust in the profession or their safety within the school and
wider community.

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request a review by writing to the FOI Officer at: The
London Borough of Barnet, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South,
London, N11 1NP (email [email address]).

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint,
you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at: The
Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF (telephone: 08456 306060 or 01625 545745; website:
[1]www.ico.gov.uk).

There is no charge for making an appeal.

Yours sincerely

Anneth Davy
Complaints & Quality Officer, Children's Service

London Borough of Barnet, North London Business Park, Bldg 4, Oakleigh
Road South, London N11 1NP
Tel: 020 8359 5730

Fax: 08708 896 799

Barnet Online: [2]www.barnet.gov.uk
P please consider the environment - do you really need to print this
email?

Anneth Davy
Complaints & Quality Officer, Children's Service

London Borough of Barnet, North London Business Park, Bldg 4, Oakleigh
Road South, London N11 1NP
Tel: 020 8359 5730

Fax: 08708 896 799

Barnet Online: [3]www.barnet.gov.uk
P please consider the environment - do you really need to print this
email?

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References

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1. http://www.ico.gov.uk/
http://www.ico.gov.uk/
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file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\rachel.williams.LBB01\Application%20Data\Microsoft\Signatures\www.barnet.gov.uk
3. file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/rachel.williams.LBB01/Application%20Data/Microsoft/Signatures/www.barnet.gov.uk
file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\rachel.williams.LBB01\Application%20Data\Microsoft\Signatures\www.barnet.gov.uk