BNP Teachers

Dear Mark Walker

Thank you for your request for information below which was received on
( 18/12/09) and I will deal with under the Freedom of Information Act
2000. The FOI Act obliges us to respond to requests promptly, and in
any case no later than 20 working days (by 21/01/10) unless it is
necessary to consider the public interest, in which case a full response
must be provided within such a time as is reasonable in the
circumstances and I will write to you again if this occurs.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I
will let you know. A fee notice will be issued to you, and you will be
required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future
correspondence.

Request

By letter of 30 September 2009, The Secretary of State Ed Balls
appointed Maurice Smith to enquire into the "promotion of racism
in
schools". Part of the review is aimed at determining whether
members of the British National Party (BNP) should be allowed to
work as teachers or in the wider school workforce.

At present there are a number of measures and safeguards in place
in place to protect children and young people in schools from
racially motivated discrimination and the promotion of political
doctrines that advocate discrimination and promote racist views.
These are:

● The requirement on schools to have equal opportunity policies

● The duty upon schools to promote racial equality

● Their duty to promote community cohesion

● The duty on governing bodies, headteachers and local
authorities
to forbid the teaching of partisan political activities in
schools

● The powers of the GTC (England) regarding suitability of
registration and where teacher conduct could bring the profession
into disrepute

I would like you to provide me with evidence of how effective
these
measures are including whether they are sufficient to maintain
trust in the profession and protect children and young people.

Please provide the following information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

1) What evidence is there that schools’ equal opportunity
policies
are effective in combating racism?
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.
3) Can you provide me with any evidence that the measures listed
above have been effective (if this has not already been done)?
4) Are further measures required to either maintain trust in the
teaching profession or protect children and young people?

Yours sincerely

Mark Walker
Solidarity Trade Union
www.solidaritytradeunion.org

Yours sincerely

Information Compliance Team
Legal Services
Bracknell Forest Borough Council
Tel: 01344 353071

www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk ( http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ )

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Email Only

Dear Mark Walker

I am writing to confirm that the council has now completed its search
for the information which you requested on 18th December 2009.

Please find below a copy of your request, followed by the Council’s
response.

Request

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

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.

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

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

Response

1) Bracknell Forest Borough Council does not hold this information.

2) 3) and 4) The Council reasonably requires further information in
order to identify and locate the information you have asked for as I am
unsure what information which is held by the Council you require. Please
note that the Council is obliged to carry out its functions with regard
for the need to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination, promote
equality of opportunity and promote good relations between persons of
different racial groups. Please clarify your request. I will not be able
to take these elements of your request further without this extra
information from you.

If you wish to discuss any of the above, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

If you are unhappy with a service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision
please use the comments, compliments and complaints procedure attached.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may
apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally
the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by Bracknell Forest Council. The Information
Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioners Office,
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Information Compliance Team
Legal Services
Bracknell Forest Borough Council
Tel: 01344 353071

www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk ( http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ )

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