BNP Teachers

Mark Walker made this Freedom of Information request to Camden Borough Council

Waiting for an internal review by Camden Borough Council of their handling of this request.

From: Mark Walker

3 December 2009

Dear Sir or Madam,

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

Link to this

From: Mark Walker

13 January 2010

Dear Camden Borough Council,

You're response is overdue.

Yours faithfully,

Mark Walker

Link to this

From: Mark Walker

4 February 2010

Dear Camden Borough Council,

Your response is overdue.

Yours faithfully,

Mark Walker

Link to this

From: Mark Walker

23 February 2010

Dear Camden Borough Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of
Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Camden Borough
Council's handling of my FOI request 'BNP Teachers'.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/bn...

Yours faithfully,

Mark Walker

Link to this

From: Peter Swingler
Camden Borough Council

23 February 2010

Camden Council - Information request (FOI/EIR) - Children, schools and
families - Application for Internal Review

Our reference: 5596856

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Swingler, Peter
Camden Borough Council

26 February 2010

Dear Mr Walker

I refer to my acknowledgement email to you dated 23 February 2010

I can now advise you that your email of that date will not be dealt with
by the Internal Review panel at its meeting on 9 March 2010.

This is because it has become apparent that your email essentially submits
a different question than the one you initially submitted. Therefore it
will be treated as a new request for information rather than a matter for
the Panel. The Children, Schools and Families department will reply to you
direct to answer the new request you have submitted.

Yours sincerely

Peter Swingler
On behalf of the Internal Review Panel
FOI Act
LB of Camden
26/2/10

This e-mail may contain information which is confidential, legally
privileged and/or copyright protected. This e-mail is intended for the
addressee only. If you receive this in error, please contact the sender
and delete the material from your computer

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Camden Borough Council only: