BNP Teachers

The request was successful.

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

Caswell, Bruce, Monmouthshire County Council

Dear Mr Walker,

Thank you for your request for information as detailed in your e-mail copied below. Your request has been forwarded to the relevant service for a response. Please allow twenty working days for a reply.

Yours sincerely,
Bruce Caswell.

Bruce Caswell
Chief Executive's
Tel. 01633 644190
[Monmouthshire Council request email]

Working with the citizens of Monmouthshire
Gweithio gyda dinasyddion Sir Fynwy

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Barnard, Wendy, Monmouthshire County Council

Dear Sir,

Please find below the response of Monmouthshire County Council to the
Freedom of Information Request: BNP Teachers

1)In combating racism in schools we require schools to submit statistical
returns to the Local Authority (LA) on a monthly basis. Racist incidents
are reported very rarely. When they are, they are investigated
appropriately.

2) All schools have Racial Equality Policies produced under guidance from
the LA

3) Equality, Inclusion & Cultural Diversity (understanding & promotion)
are included in Estyn's Framework for school inspection and in schools'
policies, monitoring and self review. All policies and practice are
reviewed by LA link officers. Monmouthshire County Council Equalities
Group meets regularly to review policy and practice: SEWREC (South East
Wales Racial Equality Committee) is represented on the group. The LA has a
Service Level Agreement with Gwent Education Minority-ethnic Service
(GEMS) who provide support and training

4) No further measures required in our opinion.

Thank you

Wendy Barnard

Monmouthshire County Council

Directorate of Lifelong Learning and Leisure

Senior Officer, Support Services

County Hall

Cwmbran

NP44 2XH

01633 644184

01633 644488

"Working with the Citizens of Monmouthshire"

'Gweithio gyda dinasyddion sir Fynwy'

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