BNP Teachers
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
Dear Mark Walker,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (Ref. T17386)
Thank you for your request for information in respect to the above. Your
request was received on 15/01/2010 and we are dealing with it under the
terms of the Freedom of Infotmation Act.
In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, we
will let you know the likely charges before proceeding.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me as the
Freedom of Information Co-ordinator. Please remember to quote the
reference number above in any future communications.
Yours sincerely,
Glesni
Glesni Williams
Swyddog Cefnogol a Gwybodaeth
Adnoddau Dynol
Gwasanaeth Cefnogol
Pencadlys
Stryd y Jel
Caernarfon
Gwynedd
LL55 1SH
[email address]
01286 679701 (2701)
Arbedwch bapur, ynni ac arian - Peidiwch argraffu'r neges yma oni bai ei bod yn
hollol angenrheidiol.
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Dear Mr Mark Walker,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (ref. T17386)
We refer to your request under the Freedom of Information Act for
information in respect to the above.
We are writing to confirm that we have now completed our search for the
information which you requested.
1) Schools in Gwynedd have been provided with a model
policy which has been further revised following the 2000 (Amended) Race
Relations Act. In May 2009 WAG reminded schools of their duties by WAG,
based on Estyn's Report of 2005 (copy of letter attached). Gwynedd
Education Authority correspond with schools regarding these issues in
September 2009.
Gwynedd Education Authority monitored the effectiveness of the policies
during visits by officers in the Spring Term of 2004 and again in the
Summer Term of 2007.
2) Such issues are discussed as a part of the Peronal
and Social Education Programmes operating within our school and there are
examples of schools who, in specific subjects like History and RE lessons,
frequently discuss topics including equal opportunities, and community
cohesion.
Schools are expected to adhere to their adopted policy and record specific
details regarding any practice/incidents involving inequality and forward
them to the Education Authority for record purposes.
The subject of racial equality is given a much higher profile in schools
as evidenced by Theatre in Education, the Resilience Project, and
`Community Cohesion' as promoted by `Continyou' in Wales. A recent example
whereby the authority disseminated information to schools regarding the
Show Racism The Red Card Competition is attached.
3) It is a Schools' Governing Body's responsibility to
adopt, implement and review policies, and resolve any complaints
appertaining to them. The number of instances regarding racial inequality
issues/incidents which have been brought to the Authority's attention
being statistically insignificant.
4) The Education Authority is not of the opinion that
further measures are required at this present point in time and are
confident in our ability to support schools and their Governing Bodies in
their endeavours to maintain the principles of equality amongst our staff,
children and young people.
If you are unhappy with the way the Council has handled your request, you
may ask for an internal review. You should contact Dilys Phillips,
Monitoring Officer/Head of Service if you wish to complain.
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
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me or Nia Evans
as the Freedom of Information Co-ordinator for the Directorate. Please
remember to quote the above reference number in any future communications.
Yours sincerely,
Glesni
Glesni Williams
Swyddog Cefnogol a Gwybodaeth
Adnoddau Dynol
Gwasanaeth Cefnogol
Pencadlys
Stryd y Jel
Caernarfon
Gwynedd
LL55 1SH
[email address]
01286 679701 (2701)
Arbedwch bapur, ynni ac arian - Peidiwch argraffu'r neges yma oni bai ei bod yn
hollol angenrheidiol.
Save paper, energy and money - Do not print this message unless it is absolutely
necessary.
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