Dec 1, 2024 Story by: Editor
Campaigners are raising concerns that schools and colleges in England are failing to meet their legal obligations to address and prevent racism. They are calling for the national curriculum to include an explicit focus on anti-racism and make Black history a mandatory subject.
A coalition of youth-focused organizations has sent a letter to the Prime Minister, stating, “Racism is holding all young people back,” and urging immediate action to mitigate the impacts of this growing issue. The letter emphasizes the government’s upcoming curriculum review, scheduled to report next year, as an opportunity to incorporate diverse, anti-racist content for a more inclusive educational experience.
The coalition also highlights the insufficiency of current legislative support for anti-racist practices in schools and has requested a meeting with Keir Starmer to discuss additional measures to support young people affected by racism. Their recommendations include implementing a whole-school strategy to combat racism, requiring schools to develop action plans to address racial inequality under proposed race equality legislation, and treating racism as a safeguarding issue. They also call for the Department for Education (DfE) to issue anti-racism guidance to ensure consistent application across institutions.
The letter points to evidence showing the harmful consequences of bias and the lack of racially inclusive practices, stating, “We have seen far too many young people’s lives held back by their experiences of racism, which not only affects their health and wellbeing, but also limits their opportunities for a happy, fulfilling, and successful life.” It adds that racism affects not only individual victims but also the broader school community, undermining cohesion and belonging.
Prominent organizations, including the Diana Award, Everyday Racism, the Centre for Mental Health, and the Black Curriculum, as well as public figures such as singer Jade Thirlwall and author Nels Abbey, have endorsed the campaign. Chemistry teacher and TikTok personality Shabaz Says remarked, “As a teacher, I’ve witnessed this first-hand, so it’s incredibly important for change to happen.”
Data cited in the letter reveals a 23% increase in student suspensions for racist abuse in 2022–23 compared to the previous academic year. Suspension rates are notably higher among students of Black Caribbean and mixed White-Black Caribbean backgrounds compared to White British students. Additionally, 95% of respondents to the Black and British Survey last year felt the curriculum neglected Black lives, with only 2% believing educational institutions take racism seriously.
Naomi Evans, founder of Everyday Racism, emphasized, “Racism should be explicitly treated as a safeguarding issue, and teachers should be equipped to deal with it.”
A DfE spokesperson stated, “Racism and discrimination have absolutely no place in our schools nor in our society… We have launched an independent curriculum and assessment review aimed at delivering a curriculum that reflects the issues and diversities of our society, ensuring all children and young people are represented.” Source: The Guardian
