BNP Teachers

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

The request was partially successful.

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: Morris, Valerie
Croydon Borough Council

8 December 2009

Dear Mr Walker

Thank you for your email dated 3 December 2009 in which you have
requested, among other matters, evidence that schools' equal opportunity
policies are effective in combating racism.

We are considering your request under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, and hope to respond within the statutory 20 working
days.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, either
myself or a colleague will let you know the likely charges before
proceeding.

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

Yours sincerely

Valerie Morris

Contract Monitoring Officer

Chief Executive's Office

Democratic & Legal Services Division

5th Floor South Side

Taberner House

Park Lane Croydon

CR9 3JS

Tel: 0208 686 4433 ext. 62676

Fax: 0208 760 5679

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

-L-1.5 million for your favourite parks - you choose where.
VOTE NOW at www.croydon.gov.uk/yourparks
Parks to be proud of: a Croydon Council initiative.

Please use this web site address to view the Council's E-Mail disclaimer -
www.croydon.gov.uk/disclaimer/email.htm

Link to this

From: Mark Walker

4 February 2010

Dear Morris, Valerie,

Your response is overdue.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Walker

Link to this

From: Mark Walker

23 February 2010

Dear Croydon Borough Council,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Croydon 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: Derby, James
Croydon Borough Council

23 February 2010

Dear Mr Walker

Thank you for your email dated 3 December 2009 in which you have
requested, among other matters, evidence that schools' equal opportunity
policies are effective in combating racism. We have considered your
request under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and
apologise for the delay in replying. Below is our response.

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

We do not hold information.

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 follow government guidelines to support the duties placed on them.

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

N/a

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

N/a

The Council has no obligation under any legislation to record the
information you have requested. School governing bodies have considerable
management responsibilities and are responsible for school policy and
monitoring the effectiveness of their policies. The schools however
report any racial incidents to their governing body on a termly basis.
You may therefore wish to contact the schools directly for the
information.

If you are dissatisfied with the way the department has handled your
request under the Freedom of Information Act you may ask for an internal
review. You can do this by outlining the details of your complaint by
either:

emailing us at [1][Croydon Borough Council request email]

faxing us on 020 8760 5661

writing FOI Complaints, London Borough of Croydon, Democratic & Legal
Services, Croydon CR9 3JS

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The information Commissioner can be contacted at:

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

Yours sincerely

James Derby

Corporate Solicitor

Legal & Democratic Services

London Borough of Croydon

Taberner House

Park Lane

CR9 3JS

Tel: 020 8760 5768 Ext. 61359

Fax: 020 8760 5679

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Help us get more police for Croydon. Register your support at
www.croydon.gov.uk/morepolice
Looking to get fit for 2010? Pop into the Healthy Living Hub at the
Central Library.

Please use this web site address to view the Council's E-Mail disclaimer -
www.croydon.gov.uk/disclaimer/email.htm

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Croydon Borough Council request email]
mailto:[Croydon Borough Council request email]

Link to this

From: Haynes-Ranger, Angela
Croydon Borough Council

4 March 2010

Dear Mr Walker,

Further to your email below, I would be grateful if you would provide us with details of your complaint so that we are able to provide you with a response.

Regards

Angela Haynes-Ranger
Legal Support Officer

London Borough of Croydon
Democratic & Legal Services
Chief Executive's Office
5th Floor,Taberner House
Park Lane, Croydon CR9 3JS
DX 136017 Croydon 17
Tel:020 8686 4433 ext 61402
Fax:020 8760 5679

show quoted sections

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Croydon Borough Council only: