Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

56
 Towards Race Equality: a Liberal Democrat Approach !"#$% #'()#% )* %+' ,"-'#./ 0'1)2#.% 3.$4 !)#2' )5 6.2' 789./"%:; 6.2' 789./"%: "5 7<92.%")5 .5< 71(/):1'5%

description

A Liberal Democrat report produced by the party’s race equality taskforce and commissioned by Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, which was launched, Saturday 1 June.The report contains 30 recommendations to tackle race discrimination in education and employment and comes after a year of hearings with experts in Westminster, and includes a foreword by Nick Clegg.

Transcript of Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

Page 1: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 1/56

 

Towards Race Equality:

a Liberal DemocratApproach

FirstreportoftheLiberalDemocratTaskForceonRaceEquality:

RaceEqualityinEducationandEmployment

Page 2: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 2/56

 

Foreword

EqualityunderthelawandequalopportunityisattheheartofLiberalDemocracy.The

preambletotheLiberalDemocratconstitutionstates:“Upholdingthesevaluesofindividualandsocialjustice,werejectallprejudiceanddiscriminationbaseduponrace,colour,

religion,age,disability,sexorsexualorientationandopposeallformsofentrenched

privilegeandinequality.”

ThiscommitmenttoequalityunderpinnedtheagreementthatsetuptheCoalition

Governmentin2010.Aswesaidinthatagreement“TheGovernmentbelievesthatthere

aremanybarrierstosocialmobilityandequalopportunitiesinBritaintoday,withtoomany

childrenheldbackbecauseoftheirsocialbackground,andtoomanypeopleofallagesheld

backbecauseoftheirgender,race,religionorsexuality.Weneedconcertedgovernment

actiontoteardownthesebarriersandhelptobuildafairersociety.” 

Ourpartyhasaproudhistoryofinvolvementinthefightagainstracismand,inearlieryears,

Apartheid.Indeed,somepartymembersjoinedtheLiberalDemocratsandourpredecessor

partiesinordertoplayapartinthisaspectoftheparty’swork.Thecommitmenthasbeen

carriedoutateveryleveloftheparty,locallyandnationally.

 

Itisclear,however,thatalthough36yearshavepassedsincethe1976RaceRelationsAct

cameintobeing–outlawingracialdiscriminationineverypublicfunctionandserviceand

settinguptheCommissionforRacialEquality–racediscriminationremainsaproblemin

modernBritain.

Thisreportisabsolutelyrighttofocusoneducationandemployment.Iwanttothankall

thoseinvolvedindrawingupthisreportfortheirhardworkindoingso,andfortheir

heartfeltcommitmenttoraceequality.IbelievethattheLiberalDemocratsarethepartyof

education,becausejustastherecanbenofreedomwithoutopportunity,sotherecanbeno

realopportunitywithouteducation.

TheideasinthisreportarenotGovernmentpolicyorLiberalDemocratpolicy,andIdon’t

necessarilyagreewitheveryindividualrecommendationinthesepages.Butthequestions,

challengesandissuesthatthisreportraisesareimportantonesforallLiberalDemocrats

thatsharemygoalofensuringthatwebuildafairersocietyinastrongereconomyenabling

everybodytogetoninlife.

NickCleggMPLeaderoftheLiberalDemocratsandDeputyPrimeMinister

Page 3: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 3/56

 

Contents

ExecutiveSummary 4

Termsofreference 7

Partone:RaceEqualityandEducation 9

Sectionone:Pupils,studentsandtheirfamilies 9

Earlyyears 9

Primaryandsecondaryeducation 12

Punishmentandexclusions 18

Englishasasecondlanguage 21

Gypsy,RomaandIrishTraveller(GRT)communities 24

Furtherandhighereducation 26

Apprenticeships 28

Sectiontwo:theteachingprofession 31

Primaryandsecondaryschools 31

Furtherandhighereducation 33

Parttwo:RaceEqualityandemployment 36

Pay 37

Occupationalsegregation 37

Racediscrimination? 39

Skillsandtraining 42

Accesstocapitalforbusiness 42

Contrastbetweenpublicandprivatesectorprogress 43

EqualityandHumanRightsCommission 46

Conclusion:AnewLiberalDemocratapproach 48

Appendix:Listofrecommendations 51

Page 4: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 4/56

 

4

Executivesummary

TheTaskForcefocussedoneducationfromthepointofviewofboththepupilsandtheir

families,andtheteachingstaff.

TheTaskForceacknowledgedtheimportanceofgoodqualitychildcareinaidingayoung

child’semotionalandsocialdevelopment,butevidencesuggeststhatBAMEgroupsareless

likelytouseregisteredchildcareservices.Onecontributingfactoristhat46%ofallBAME

familiesintheUKliveinLondonwherechildcarecostsareuptoone-thirdhigherthan

elsewhereinBritain–sohighthattheyareunaffordableformany.TheTaskForceendorsed

theproposalstomakethefreechildcareentitlementmoreflexibletoimprovethechances

ofgainingemploymentforunemployedparents.

WhileBAMEeducationalachievementhasgraduallyimprovedandforsomeethnicitiesthe

achievementgaponfirstsighthasdisappeared,BlackCaribbeanandPakistanipupilsremainbelowaverage.Gypsy,RomaandTravellerchildrenarealongwaybehind.

Therearemanyfactorsatplay,includingclassandpoverty,andtheTaskForceisconcerned

abouttheincorporationoftheEthnicMinorityAchievementGrantintotheDedicated

Schoolsgrantandtheweakeningofschools’requirementstoaddressequalityand

communitycohesionasaresultofchangingtheOfstedschoolinspectioncriteria.TheTask

Forcebelievesthatthisisallowingcash-strappedschoolstodivertthemoneyforother

purposes.OnekeyrecommendationinthissectionwasfortheEthnicMinorityAchievement

Granttobemaintainedandthatschoolsshouldbemadetransparentlyaccountablefortheir

EMAGexpenditureinordertogiveschoolsthefreedomtousethemoneyforitsintendedpurposes,inthemannertheschooldetermines.

TheTaskForceendorsescallsforallcommunitiestofeelincludedinthenationalnarrative

byensuringthattheschoolcurriculumreflectsthediversityofitspopulation,bothtoraise

levelsofengagementandattainmentofBAMEpupilsandtopromoteapositiveviewof

racialequalityandculturaldiversitytoallpupils.

ParentsareconcernedthatsometeachershavelowerexpectationsofBAMEpupilsand

stereotypicalassumptionsabouttheirabilities.TheTaskForcewasextremelyconcernedat

thehighratesofexclusionofBlackCaribbeanboys,andtheDeptforEducation’sownstatisticalevidenceshowingthatthesepupilsaremorelikelytobeexcludedfromschools

wheretheyareasmallminority,andlesslikelywhentheyareingreaternumbers.TheTask

ForcenotedthatexclusionisusedfarmorefrequentlyinBritainthanitisinmainland

Europe.

ThekeyTaskForcerecommendationsherewerethattheDepartmentforEducationshould

implementtheconclusionsoftheChildren’sCommission’sreportintothepreventionofand

positivealternativestoexclusionfromschool.Itshouldalsoreinstatetherightofappeals

panelstoorderthatchildrenillegallyorunjustlyexcludedfromschoolhavetherighttobe

returnedtothatschool.

Page 5: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 5/56

 

5

TheTaskForcefoundthatinordertoaddresssuccessfullyBAMEexclusionandinstitutional

racismitrequiresafocusonculturaldiversityandraceequalityduringthetrainingof

childcareprovidersandteachingstaff.Italsorecommendedthatethnicmonitoringwaskey

tomeasuringprogressandtoensuringaccountability.

OnGypsy,RomaandTravellerchildrenthekeyTaskForcerecommendationwasforanew

creativenationalcampaigntoaddressliteracyandincreasepositiveaspirations,ledbythese

communitieswithgovernment,localauthorityandschoolsupport,toincreasethese

communities’participationinsecondaryeducation.

TheTaskForcealsorecommendedthatkeytodeliveringsuccessfulchangewithineducation

wasthenecessityforethnicmonitoringtomeasureprogressandensureaccountability.

Turningtohighereducation,theTaskForcefoundthatwhiletherehasbeenarapidgrowth

inthenumberofBAMEstudentsatuniversity,theyareconcentratedinthepost-1992

universitiesandveryfewattendRussellGroupuniversities–8%ofallBlackuniversitystudentscomparedto24%ofallwhitestudents.Thishasasubstantialimpactontheir

futureemploymentprospects.Inadditionstudentsfromsomeethnicgroupsarefarless

likelytoleaveuniversitywithafirstorupperseconddegree–in2008/9nearlysevenoutof

10whitestudentsachievedthiscomparedwithjustunderfouroutof10Blackstudents.

TheTaskForcerecommendsrequiringalluniversitiestobefullytransparentaboutallthe

selectioncriteriausedtoevaluatestudentapplications,includingforexample,whichA-level

subjectsarelikelytocountfororagainstacandidate.ItrecommendsthattheEqualitiesand

HumanRightsCommissionensurethatFEandHEinstitutionsarecomplyingwithrace

equalitylegislationandthatcollegesanduniversitiesshouldadoptazerotolerancepolicyregardingracistbehaviour,andincreasefocusonsocialinclusionandthestudent

experiencebothwithinandoutsidetheclassroom.

Onapprenticeships,in2009-10just7%ofallapprenticesinEnglandwerefromanethnic

minoritycomparedwith14%ofthetotalworkingagepopulation.Again,theTaskForce

recommendedethnicmonitoringofapprenticeships,particularlyinrelationtoapplication

successrates,andactionbetakenaccordingly.

TheTaskForcewasconcernedatunderrepresentationofBAMEteachersandthattheir

successinnumberandcareerprogresswasconcentratedinschoolswithverydiversepopulations,withteachersreportingdifficultyinsecuringpostsinlessdiverseschools.

BAMEteachershavereportedthatdiscriminationwasabarriertocareerprogress.It

recommendstargetsfortherecruitmentofBAMEteachersand,again,equalitymonitoring

undertakensystematicallyandtransparentlysothatprogresscanbemonitored.

TheTaskForcenotedwithconcernthatnomatterwhatprogressachievedatschooland

university,theBAMEworkforcefacesdiscrimination.Two-fifthsofpeoplefromethnic

minoritiesliveinincomepoverty,twicetherateforwhitepeople,andnearlyallgroupshave

hourlypaylessthanwhiteBritishmen.Eventhosegroupswithhigherpayarenotfreefrom

discrimination:althoughChinesemenareoneofthehighestpaidgroups,theyarepaid11%lessthanwouldbeexpectedallowingfortheirqualifications.

Page 6: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 6/56

 

6

Further,thereisoccupationalsegregationwithBAMEgroupsover-representedinsome

areasandunder-representedinothers.TheTaskForcenotesthattheONSdatashowing

thatoutofeconomicallyactive16-24yearolds,55.9%ofBlackmenand39.1%ofBlack

womenwereunemployed,comparedwith23.9%ofwhitemenand17.2%ofwhitewomen.

TheTaskForceconsidersthistobeasituationthatwilldevastatethatcommunityunlessitis

addressedwithsupremeurgency.

TheTaskForceacknowledgesaDWPstudyintowhetherdiscriminationwasasignificant

factoraffectinglabourmarketoutcomes,whichconcludedthatethnicminoritieshadto

send16jobapplicationsforonecalltointerviewcomparedtonineforwhiteapplicants.

Further,theyfoundthat4%ofpublicsectoremployerswerelikelytohavediscriminatedon

groundsofrace–comparedwith35%ofprivatesectoremployers.

TheTaskForceendorsedthecommitmentoftheCoalitionequalitystrategytoliftthe

barriersfacedbyethnicminoritybusinessesinaccessingfinance.

Acknowledgingthatprogressintheprivatesectorlagsfarbehindthatofthepublicsector,

theTaskForcerecommendsthatgovernmentusescontractcompliancewithprivatesector

companiestopromoteworkplaceequality.Further,theTaskForcerecommendsthatall

companiesandthirdsectororganisationsinreceiptoffunding,grants,licencesorother

benefitsdistributedonbehalfofthepublic,berequiredtocarryoutdetailedequality

monitoringandsendittotheirfunder,regulatororcommissionerwhichinturnisrequired

topublishthisdataforeachcompanyorlicence,byname,annually.Thegovernmentshould

ensurethatquangos,regulatorsandotherpublicbodiesacceptthatequalityispartoftheir

remitandthatenforcement,onbehalfofthepublic,ofcomplianceandrealaccountabilityonthepartoftherecipientsisakeypartoftheirroleonwhichtheywillbemeasured.

Theevidenceindicatedthattheadoptionofthe“holisticapproach”toequalitycombined

withamoveawayfromaddressingtheparticularsetsofissuesfacedbyeachequalitystrand

hasbeenatacosttotheethnicminoritypopulationwhichcollectivelyhasbeenand

continuestobethetargetofsustaineddiscriminationonthegroundsoftheirrace.Indeed,

Labour’sapproachtoequalityappearstohaveleftethnicminorities’employmentsituation,

particularlyintheprivatesector,littlebetterthanitwaswhenLabourtookoffice.

TheTaskForceconcludedthatthereisalongwaytogobeforetherecouldbeany justificationforproposalstoweakentheEqualityActandthebudgetoftheEHRC.TheTask

ForcerecommendsthatLiberalDemocratsopposeallproposalsthatwouldweakenthe

EqualityAct,andthatthepartyshoulddemandfullimplementationoftheAct,includingthe

adoptionofallstatutorycodesofpractice,asenvisagedwhentheLiberalDemocratsin

Parliamentvotedforitspassageintolaw.

ItfurtherrecommendsthattheEHRCmaintainsitscurrentremitand–notingalsothe

concernoftheUnitedNationsthatBritain’snationalhumanrightsinstitutionislosingits

independence–thatitsbudgetbemaintainedat2010levels,thatactionistakentoensure

itsindependencefromgovernment,andthatmeaningfulresourcesareallocatedtoeachequalitystrandwithintheEHRC.

Page 7: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 7/56

 

7

TermsofReference

TheLiberalDemocratTaskForceonRaceEquality,setupbyLiberalDemocratleaderandDeputyPrimeMinisterNickCleggearlyin2012,waschargedwithidentifyingeffective

measurestotackleinequality,discriminationandunder-representationaffectingBlack,

AsianandMinorityEthnic(BAME)communitiesandindividuals–lookingfortangible

outcomesthatbringfairnessandequalitytoBAMEcommunities.

ThemembersoftheTaskForceare:BaronessMeralHussein-Ece(chair),BaronessFloella

Benjamin,DuwayneBrooks,MerleneEmerson,IssanGhazni,LesterHolloway,AnujaPrashar

andRuwanUduwerage-Perera.

Indeterminingthefocusofitsfirstreport,theTaskForcesharedtheviewofLiberal

DemocratleaderandDeputyPrimeMinisterNickCleggthatexclusionbeginsattheearliest

age.ItalsoagreedwithEquanomicsUKthattherecanbenosocialinclusionwithout

economicinclusion;nosocialintegrationwithouteconomicintegrationandnojustice

withouteconomicjustice.TheTaskForceconcludedthatthefirstfocusofitswork,tyingin

withthesocialmobilitystrategy,shouldbeeducationandemployment–twocrucialareas

oflifethatareintrinsicallylinked.

Thisreport,therefore,beginswithpreschooleducation,reviewstheeducationsystemand

keyissuesassociatedwithit,alsostudyingthesituationfacingBAMEteachers,andthen

movesontothecareerpath.

TheTaskForcetookevidenceandconsultedwidelybothinsideandoutsidetheparty.Italso

tookaccountofthepolicypaperonbroadersocio-economicinequalitydrawnupbya

workinggroupchairedbyDavidHall-Matthewsandadoptedbytheparty’sannual

conferenceinSeptember2012.

ThisresultingreportwillbepresentedtotheFederalPolicyCommittee,ParliamentaryParty

andFederalExecutive.Itishopedthatamotionarisingfromthisreportwillbedebatedat

theSpring2013FederalConferenceandacceptedbyconferenceaspartypolicy.

ThemembersoftheTaskForcewouldliketothankthefollowingorganisationsandindividualsfortheirtime,supportandsuggestionsthroughoutthisprocess:

o  DrNicolaRollock,VisitingResearchAssociate&AssociateEditorUK–RaceEthnicity

andEducation,EducationalFoundations&PolicyStudies,InstituteofEducation,

UniversityofLondon

o  ProfessorAugustineJohn,ChairmanandPrincipalConsultant,GlobalDevelopment

StrategiesUKLtd,HonoraryFellowandAssociateProfessor,InstituteofEducation,

UniversityofLondon

Director/TeamLeader,GlobalDevelopmentStrategiesLtd

o  JaneLane,AdvocateWorkerforRacialEquality

Page 8: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 8/56

 

8

o  PatriceLawrence,LeaderonEqualityfortheEarlyChildhoodUnitoftheNational

Children’sBureau

o  MerylShepherd,VisitingLecturer,RoehamptonUniversity

o  DrBrianAlleyne,SeniorLecturer,Goldsmiths,UniversityofLondon

o  BarbaraNea,ROTA–RaceontheAgenda

o  AnitaBey,EarlyYearsTrainerandFormerPractitioner

o  ClaireHerbert,SeniorPolicyAdviser,EqualityChallengeUnit

o  KarenChouhan,Director,Equanomics

o  ProfessorIanLaw,Director,CentreforEthnicityandRacismStudies,Universityof

Leeds

o  GaryLoke,HeadofPolicy,EqualityChallengeUnit

o  DrJohnCoxhead,theEuropeanGypsy,RomaandTravellerResearchCluster

(EGRTRC),UniversityofDerby

o  JamieSaddler,PoliticalAdviserandParliamentaryResearcher

o  VickiButler,PublicAffairsManager,RunnymedeTrust

TheTaskForcealsowishestothankAdamPritchard,BethYamamoto-KnightandJanice

Turnerfortheirassistancewithresearchandpreparation.

Wewereunabletoincorporatealltheevidenceprovidedtousinthispaper,butitall

informedourthinkingandwasgratefullyreceived.

Theaimofthispaperfromthebeginningwastoimplementactionswhichwillachievenot

onlyequalityofopportunitybutalsofairnessofoutcomes.

Page 9: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 9/56

 

9

Part1:RaceEqualityandEducation

AsProfessorGusJohn1toldtheTaskForce,educationisafundamentalhumanright.Itisnot

aprivilegetobegrantedonthebasisofsocialclass,racialorethnicorigin,wealth,religionandbelief,age,sexorphysicalability.Educationisnotjustforacquiringhighgrade

examinationresults,equippingpeoplewithskillsfortheworkplace,orforpositioningthe

nationtobehighupinthegloballeaguetableofeconomiccompetitiveness.

Itisfordevelopinginpeopletheskillsandcompetencestotakecontroloftheirownlives

andtofunctionasresponsiblesocialcitizens,demandingandsafeguardingtheirownrights,

havingdueregardtoandrespectfortherightsofothers,andembracingtheir

responsibilitiestothemselves,theirfamiliesandtosociety.

Instate-fundedprimaryschools27.6%ofpupils(ofcompulsoryschoolageandabove)are

classifiedasbeingofminorityethnicorigin,anincreasefrom26.5%in2011.Instate-funded

secondaryschools23.2%ofpupils(ofcompulsoryschoolageandabove)areclassifiedas

beingofminorityethnicorigin,anincreasefrom22.2%in2011.

Inthissection,theTaskForcelooksateducationfromtwoperspectives:thepupilsand

studentsandtheirfamilies,andtheteachingstaff.

Sectionone:

Pupils,studentsandtheirfamilies

Earlyyears

Thefirstfiveyearsofachild’slifearethefoundationthatshapestheirfuture,includingtheir

learningachievementatschoolandbeyond.LiberalDemocratsacknowledgethe

importanceofgoodqualitychildcareinaidingayoungchild’semotionalandsocial

development.Byensuringhighqualityearlyyearseducationforourchildren,wearesetting

themuptomanagethetransitiontoschoolandtomakebetterprogressatprimaryschoolthanwouldotherwisehavebeenthecase.

Theperiodofearlyyearseducationprovidesaninvaluableopportunityforeducation

professionalstoobservethelinesalongwhichfriendshipgroupsaredrawnandto

encouragebetterintegrationamongstyoungchildrenofdifferentethnicbackgrounds.The

DayCareTruststatesthatforchildrenfromnon-Englishspeakingfamiliesitalsooffersa

chancetolearnEnglish.Pupilsatriskofunderachievement,includingrefugeeandasylum

 1

 ProfessorAugustineJohn,ChairmanandPrincipalConsultant,GlobalDevelopmentStrategiesUKLtd,HonoraryFellowandAssociateProfessor,InstituteofEducation,UniversityofLondon

 

Page 10: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 10/56

 

10

seekerpupils,canbenefitmostfromaccesstochildcareandsupportduringtheearlyyears

ofachild’slife.2

TheEarlyYearsFoundationStageprofilelooksatthepercentageofchildreninEnglandwho

arereachingagoodlevelofdevelopmentattheageoffive.Itcoverschildren’sphysical,

intellectual,emotionalandsocialdevelopment.Theproportionachievingagoodlevelof

developmentonthismeasurevariesbetweendifferentethnicgroups:Irish,Indian,White

Britishandmixedwhite/Asianpupilswereabovethenationalaveragecomparedwithall

pupils,whilethosefromBlackandPakistaniethnicgroupsdidnotperformsowell.Pupils

eligibleforfreeschoolmeals–usedasaroughmeasureofparentallowincomeandsocial

class–didnotperformaswellasthosewhowereineligible(35%to55%).

TheTaskForcebelievesthataccesstohighqualitychildcareisakeyissue.BAMEgroupsare

lesslikelytouseregisteredchildcareservices.3Whileitmustbeacknowledgedthatsome

womenactivelychoosenottoworkwhentheirchildrenareveryyoung,thecostof

childcareisneverthelessamajorfactor:46%ofallBAMEfamiliesintheUKliveinLondon,wherechildcarecostsareuptoathirdhigherthanelsewhereinBritain,sohighthatthey

areunaffordableformanyparents.4

TheTaskForceheardevidencethattheSureStartprogrammehadhadapositiveimpactin

deprivedcommunities.Ithadbeensetuptodeliverbetterchildcare,earlyeducation,health

andfamilysupportinthoseareasthatmostneededit.Therewasanemphasisonoutreach

andcommunitydevelopment.TheSureStartchildren’scentresweresetupinthese

communitiesandopentoallfamilieslivingintheseareas,andtherearenowmorethan

3,000inexistence.

TheTaskForcewasconcernedthatfundingcutsarereducingtheeffectivenessofthese

centres:somearemergingtosavemoneyandservicesarebeingreduced.Staffingcuts

appeartobereducingtheeffectivenessofsomecentresinreachingthefamiliestheywere

setuptoassist.TheTaskForceheardanecdotalevidencethatinsomeinnercityareas

middleclassparentsandevennanniesweretakingchildrentothesecentres,whilefewer

workingclasschildrenwereparticipating.

Children’sTrustsareanotherpositivedevelopment–localpartnershipsbringingtogether

theorganisationsresponsibleforservicesforchildren,youngpeopleandfamiliesinashared

commitmenttoimprovingchildren’slives.TheTrustsdevelopastrategymostappropriatetolocalcircumstancesandcanfocusonparticularissues.

SurveysofBAMEparentsintotheirexperiencesofchildcarehaveindicatedthattheyhave

hadnegativeexperienceswithchildcareprovidersandbeenleftwithaperceptionthatthey

werenotwelcome5.TheTaskForceheardevidenceindicatingthatitisextremelyimportant

toraisethestandardsandqualificationsofthoseworkingintheearlyyearsworkforce.Early

 2http://www.daycaretrust.org.uk/data/files/Projects/London_project/BAME_briefing_formatted_14910.pdf  

3TheExperienceofBlackandMinorityEthnicCommunitieswithHMRCServices.AStudyConductedforHM

Revenue&CustomsIpsosMORI,2010.p.10http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/report116.pdf4http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Tackling%20childcare%20affordability%20-22%202%20MW.pdf

5http://www.daycaretrust.org.uk/data/files/Projects/London_project/BAME_briefing_formatted_14910.pdf  

Page 11: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 11/56

 

11

YearsTrainerAnitaBeystatedthathardlyanyworkwasdonetopreparepeopleforthe

internationalworldwearelivingin,andthatequalitiestraininghadentirelyfallenoffthe

agenda.PatriceLawrence,LeaderonEqualityfortheEarlyChildhoodUnitoftheNational

Children’sBureau,voicedsupportfortheBlackVoicesNetworkwhilstencouragingpeople

tocreatefocusgroupssoexperiencesregardingissuescouldbevoiced.MerylShepherd,

VisitingLecturer,RoehamptonUniversity,feltthattraininginequalityneededtobe

implementedacrossallfieldsandnotjustintheschoolcurriculum.Therehavebeen

improvements:earlyyearstraininghasbeengivenprofessionalstatuswhichhasallowed

earlyyearsstafftoobtainbetterqualifications,butthereneedstobemoretrainingand

teachingpromotingskillsandintegrationskills.JaneLane,AdvocateWorkerforRacial

Equality,pointedtotheworkofLambethCouncilincreatinggroupsintegratingthosewith

qualificationswiththosewhohaveexperiencebutnotthequalifications.Sheemphasised

thatethnicmonitoringisimperativetogaugethesuccessovertimeofanychangesandto

dothissuggestedworkingwithcarersandparents.Therewasastrongviewthatworking

groupsatgovernmentandcouncillevelshouldberepresentativeofthosetheyaretryingto

assist.

Increasingafamily’sincomethroughemploymenthelpstoreducechildpoverty:children

livinginpovertyaremorelikelytobeinpoorhealth,struggleatschoolandliveinpovertyas

adults.

ItisthereforeimportantthatthoseBAMEfamiliesthatliveininnercitiesonlowtomiddle

incomesareprovidedtheadviceandthesupportnecessarytoensurethattheyhaveaccess

tochildcareandearlyyearseducationandthatchildcareprovisionisaccessibleinthese

localities.InparticulartheTaskForcewelcomestherecentannouncementbyNickCleggof

changestothefreeentitlementtochildcare,particularlythattheentitlementcanbetakenoveraminimumoftwodaysperweekratherthanthree,asthiscouldofferabettersolution

forworkingparentsandthosepreventedfromworkingbycurrentchildcarehours.TheTask

ForcealsowelcomesNickClegg’sannouncementof£100mtosupporttheextensionoffree

childcareto130,000ofthemostdisadvantagedtwo-year-oldsfromSeptember2013,rising

toaround£260,000(about40%oftwo-year-olds)inSeptember2014.

Recommendation1

Notingthatthefirstfiveyearsofachild'slifeshapeshisorherfuture,itisessentialtoensure

adequateprovisionofaffordableandaccessiblechildcareincludingthrough:

FurthertrainingforthosewishingtoentertheEarlyYearsWorkforce,thistrainingshould

includeaclearfocusonculturaldiversityandraceequalityandontheneedtoensurethat

themoredisadvantagedcommunitieshaveequalaccess.

Supportingchangestothefreechildcareentitlementtocreateamoreflexibleofferthatin

turncouldimprovethechancesofBAMEparentsofobtainingemployment.

Page 12: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 12/56

 

12

Primaryandsecondaryeducation

Instate-fundedprimaryschools27.6%ofpupils(ofcompulsoryschoolage)wereclassified

asbeingofminorityethnicorigin,anincreasefrom26.5%in2011.Instate-funded

secondaryschools23.2%ofpupils(ofcompulsoryschoolageandabove)wereclassifiedas

beingofminorityethnicorigin,anincreasefrom22.2%in2011

6

.Therehasbeensubstantialprogressoverthelast10yearstowardsclosingtheachievementgapandachievementgaps

forsomeethnicminoritieshavedisappeared.However,therearedifferencesin

achievementlevelsfordifferentethnicgroups.Thosethattendedtodowellandperform

abovethenationalaverageincludethosefrommixedwhiteandAsian,Indian,Irishand

whiteBritishbackgrounds.PupilsfromBlackorPakistaniethnicgroupsperformedbadlyin

comparison.Girlssignificantlyoutperformedboysforallethnicgroups.7

Thenationallevel,andthepercentageofwhiteBritishpupilsachieving5A*-Cgrades

includingmathsandEnglish,is58%.Thiscomparestoaround45%in2006/07.Chinese

studentsarethehighestattaininggroup,with78.5%achieving5A*-Cgradesincluding

mathsandEnglish.Thiscomparesto70%in2006/07.

Indianstudentsarethesecondhighestattaininggroup,with74.4%achieving5A*-Cgrades

includingmathsandEnglish.Thiscomparestoaround62%in2006/07.Bangladeshipupils

nowhaveaslightlyhigherattainmentratethanwhitepupils,with59.7%5A*-Cgrades

includingmathsandEnglish.Thisisamassiveimprovementgiventhatonlyaround40%

achievedthis2006/07,whichwas5%lessthanwhitepupilsandthenationallevel.

TherehasalsobeenanimprovementforBlackAfricanpupils,with57.9%achieving5A*-C

gradesincludingmathsandEnglish,comparedtojustover40%achievingthisin2006/07.A

similarlevelofimprovementcanbeseenformixedwhiteandBlackAfricanpupils.

However,PakistaniandBlackCaribbeanyoungpeoplestillhavelowerattainmentlevels

comparedtothenationallevel,with52.6%and48.6%respectivelyachieving5A*-Cgrades

includingmathsandEnglish.Thishas,however,improvedfromaround35%forPakistani

and34%forBlackCaribbeanpupilsin2006/07.

Travellers,GypsiesandRomaarestillthelowestachievinggroups,with17.5%ofIrish

Travellersand10.8%ofthosefromGypsyorRomabackgroundsachieving5A*-Cgrades

includingMathsandEnglish.Thishasimprovedfrom2006/07whenonly5%ofthesegroups

combinedachievedtherequiredgrades.8

EnglishBaccalaureateattainment

InequalitiesaremorepronouncedwhenlookingatthosewhoachievedtheEnglish

Baccalaureatemeasureofattainment.Thisrequires5A*-CgradesinGCSEmaths;English;

twosciencesubjects;aforeignlanguage;andeitherhistoryorgeography.The2010/11data

isasfollows:

34.6%ofChinesestudentsand25.8%ofIndianstudentsachievetheEnglishBaccalaureate

 6

http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001057/index.shtml7http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/how_fair_is_britain_ch10.pdf  

8http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001057/index.shtml

Page 13: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 13/56

 

13

15.4%ofWhitestudentsachievethemeasurement

11.2%ofBlackAfricanand11.1%ofPakistanipupilsachievetheEnglishBaccalaureate

Therateis9.9%forBangladeshipupilsand7.6%forBlackCaribbeanpupils

TravellerandRoma/Gypsypupilshavethelowestattainment,with2.2%and0.5%

respectivelyachievingthemeasurement.9

DatafromtheEqualityandHumanRightsCommissionfoundthat“Achievementishigher

forthosepupilswhosefirstlanguageisEnglishwhencomparedtopupilswhohaveEnglish

asanadditionallanguage.54%ofpupilswhosefirstlanguageisEnglishachieveagoodlevel

ofdevelopmentcomparedto42%ofpupilsforwhomEnglishisanadditionallanguage.”10

Poverty

TheEHRCalsoreportsthatthegapbetweenstudentsfromdifferentsocio-economic

backgroundsremainswide,withstudentseligibleforfreeschoolmealsonlyhalfaslikelyto

havegoodGCSEresultsasthosewhoarenot.Thecombinationofbeingeligibleforfreeschoolmealsandbeingpartofanothergroupwithalowerprobabilityofobtaininggood

qualificationsleadstoextremelylowresults.TheTaskForcewelcomesNickClegg’s

establishmentofaChildPovertyandSocialMobilityCommission.

TheTaskForcealsorecognisesthattheCoalition’sflagshippolicy,thePupilPremium,which

bringsaschoolaspecificadditionalamountofannualfundingperchildonFSM,isacrucial

interventiongiventhelinkbetweenclassandthelowerachievementofsomeethnicgroups.

The2012-13allocationperchildis£600.Schoolsarefreetousethismoneyastheyseefit.

TheTaskForcenotesthatOfsted11hascriticisedsomeschoolsforfailingtodisaggregatethePupilPremiumfromtheirmainbudget:insomeschoolsitwascleartoinspectorsthatthe

spendingwasnotallfocussedontheneedsofthespecificgroupsforwhomitwasintended.

TheHeadofOfsted,SirMichaelWilshaw,hassaiditwasarealworryifcashwasbeing

divertedto‘tarmackingplaygrounds’.AfurtherOfstedreportpublishedinFebruary201312

wasmoreupbeat.Whilethesamecriticismwasmadeofschoolthatwerelesssuccessfulin

spendingthefunding,thereportalsohighlightedmanyexamplesofwherewell-thought-out

targettedapproachesweremakingadifference.Ofstedstatedthatmanyofthesuccess

storieswereconcentratingonthecoreareasofliteracyandnumeracytobreakdownthe

mainbarrierstoaccessingthefullcurriculum.

ThissituationhasbeenmademoredifficultbyendingtheringfencingoftheEthnicMinority

AchievementGrant(EMAG),theoriginsofwhichdatebackto1966,andwhichhasprovided

animportantincentiveforschoolstobuybackresource-intensiveEthnicMinority

AchievementandEnglishasanAdditionalLanguageservicesfromlocalauthorities.Local

authoritieshavetakenaleadingroleintheprovisionoftheseservices.

 9http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001057/sfr03-2012.xls

10http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/how_fair_is_britain_ch10.pdf

11

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/pupil-premium12http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/pupil-premium-how-schools-are-spending-funding-successfully-

maximise-achievement

Page 14: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 14/56

 

14

ThedecisionbytheDeptforEducationtoincorporatetheEMAGfunding,from2011/12,

intotheDedicatedSchoolsGranthasgivenschoolscompletefreedomtodecidetheuseof

thismoneyandendedtherequirementonschoolstoensurethatthefundingisinfactused

forsupportingtheneedsofBAMEpupilsorthoseforwhomEnglishisasecondlanguage.

Thisnewmethodofdisbursement–directtoeachschoolinsteadofviathelocalauthority–

hasalsoinpracticeresultedinlesslocalcoordinationofactionundertheEMAG.For

example,oneschoolcouldhaveasubstantialnumberofnon-Englishspeakingpupils

speakingthesameforeignlanguage,andaschoolnearbymighthavejustoneortwosuch

pupils.Undertheprevioussystemthelocalauthoritycouldemployteacherswhichboth

schoolscouldhireintosupplyappropriateamountsoftuition.Underthecurrentsystem,

thefirstschoolmayhaveenoughEMAGfundingtosupportateachertoaddressthepupils'

needs,butthesecondschoolwouldbeunabletodothis.

TheTaskForcewasconcernedatreportsfromtheorganisationShowRacismtheRedCard,

theUK’santi-racismeducationalcharity,thattheselocalauthoritysupportstructuresforteachersandschoolsinpromotingequalityandtacklingracismhavebeenabolishedorare

rapidlybeingdismantled.SRRCreportedthatlocalauthorities’EthnicMinorityAchievement

Serviceteams,abletoprovideexpertadviceandresourcesforschools,arenowrapidly

disappearingpartlyduetolocalauthoritycutsbutalsoduetothechangesregardingthe

EMAgrant.Further,astheTaskForcewaspreparingthisreport,itnotedthataconsultation

onthefutureoftheEMAGitself 13

hadnotyetpresenteditsconclusions.

AnotherfactoristhechangeinOfsted'sschoolinspectioncriteriawhichhasweakenedthe

requirementstoaddressraceequality.Underthearrangementsfrom2009school

inspectorshadtogiveparticularpriorityto"assessinghowwellschoolspromoteequalityofopportunity,andhoweffectivelytheytacklediscrimination".

14Inspectorsweretomake

eightmainjudgementsrelatingtotheeffectivenessoftheleadershipandmanagementof

theschool,andtheframeworkstated:"Whereaschoolisjudgedtobeinadequatein

relationtothequalityoftheschool’sproceduresforsafeguardingand/ortheextentto

whichtheschoolpromotesequalityandtacklesdiscrimination,inspectorstreattheseas

‘limiting’judgementsandtheschool’soveralleffectivenessisalsolikelytobejudged

inadequate."

Anotheroftheeightjudgementswastheeffectivenesswithwhichtheschoolpromotes

communitycohesion.

ThischangedwiththenewframeworkfromSeptember2012.Thereisnolongerany

prioritygiventoassessinghowwellschoolspromoteequalityofopportunity.Inadequacyin

promotingequalityisnolongeralimitingjudgement–itwouldnolongerresultinthelikely

 judgementofaschoolasinadequate–andthereisnolongerajudgementonthe

effectivenessoftheschool'spromotionofcommunitycohesion.15

 13

http://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/ca/digitalAssets/200053_brief_summary_of_Government_policy_i

n_relation_to_EAL_Learners.pdf  14

The Framework for School Inspection in England under Section 5 of the Education Act 2005, from September 

2009, Ofsted15The Framework for Inspecting Schools in England under Section 5 of the Education Act 2005 (as amended)

Dec 2012, Ofsted

Page 15: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 15/56

 

15

Thismeansthatinpracticeaschoolcouldbejudgedgoodoroutstanding,withgreater

numbersofpupilsachievingfivegoodGCSEs,evenifitsblackpupilswerefallingfurther

behind.

TheTaskForceisconcernedthatallthesechanges,atatimeofseverepressureonfunding,

willunderminetheprogressonclosingtheachievementgap.

TheTaskForcenotedthat,duetotheeffortsofLiberalDemocratpeersduringthepassage

oftheEducationBill,thereremainsadutyonschoolstocooperatewiththeirlocalauthority

andactinaccordancewiththeLocalChildrenandYoungPeople'splandrawnupbythelocal

authority.

Recommendation2:

TheTaskForcerecommendsthatOfstedcontinuetomonitorexpenditureofthePupil

Premiumtoensurethatitisusedforthepurposesforwhichitwasintendedandthatallschoolsareproperlyandtransparentlyaccountableforitsuse.

TheTaskForcefurtherrecommendsthatinordertopreventareverseoftheprogressmade

inrecentyearstowardsclosingtheethnicminorityachievementgap,theEthnicMinority

 AchievementGrantismaintained,thatschoolsareheldtransparentlyaccountableforits

expenditureandthattheOfstedinspectionframeworkberevisedtoreinstatethe

requirementtojudgeschoolsontheirpromotionofequalityofopportunityandcommunity

cohesion.

TheTaskForcebelievesthatlocalcoordinationofactionisessentialandinthebestinterests

ofchildreninlocalcommunitieswithregardtotheuseoftheEthnicMinorityAchievementGrant.Itthereforerecommendsthatifthisinter-schoolcoordinationislackingthenlocal

authoritiesutilisetheirpowersundertheLocalChildrenandYoungPeople'splantoensure

thatpropercoordinationtakesplace.

Otherissues

Weallwantthebestforourchildren,andwanttomakesuretheireducationexperienceis

asenjoyableaspossiblewhileensuringtheyareabletoreachtheirfullpotential.Evidence

sharedwiththeTaskForcesuggeststhatBAMEparentshaveseveralconcernsregardingthe

mainstreameducationexperienceoftheirchildren.

ResearchbyIanLawandSarahSwann16

states:“TheUKexperienceshowsthatdespite

significantachievementsindevelopingintegrated,non-discriminatoryeducationalsystems

persistentpatternsofhostility,segregationandinequalityremain.”Thisresearchalso

challengesanyconnectionbetweenethnicityandloweducationalaspirations,apartfrom

thecaseofGypsies,RomaandTravellerswherehighdropoutandhighlevelsofdisaffection

withschoolareparticularlymarked.

 16Law,IanandSwann,SarahEthnicityandEducationinEnglandandEurope,gangstas,geeksandgorjas,

Ashgate2011

Page 16: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 16/56

 

16

Inclusionofallcommunitiesinthecurriculum

TheTaskForcediscussedtheroleofthecurriculuminensuringthatchildrenfromall

communitiesfeelapartofthenationalnarrative.TheDeptforEducationitselfhas

publishedareportongoodpracticewhichunderlinestheeffectivenessofsuchteaching,

andtheBlackManifesto2010alsocallsfortheschoolcurriculumtoreflectthediversityof

theschoolpopulation,bothtoraisethelevelsofengagementandattainmentofminority

ethnicpupilsandtopromoteapositiveviewofracialequalityandculturaldiversitytoallits

pupils.

Recommendation3

Inlinewiththepolicyoutlinedin“BlackManifesto2010”,theschoolcurriculumshould

 properlyreflecttheethnicdiversityofthecountry.Inordertopromoteunderstanding,an

impartialteachingofthehistoryofculturaldiversityintheUKaswellasBritain’shistorical

globalroleshouldbetaught.

Stereotyping

AstudybytheInstituteofEducationattheUniversityofLondonfoundthatoneofthe

majorconcernsformiddleclassBlackparentswasthatteachersgenerallyhada

predeterminedviewofthekindofpupilswhowerecapableofacademicsuccess.Thestudy

suggestedthatsometeachershadlowerexpectationsofBAMEstudents.Theidentifiedthat

thereweresignifiersthatteachersusedtoascertainwhetherapupilwouldsucceed

academically;someofthesesignifiersarecontainedinthetablebelow:

Morelikelytosucceed Lesslikelytosucceed17

Girls BoysConformingtoUniformStandards AdaptingUniform

Doesn’tpartakein‘Black’Culture Partakesin‘Black’Culture

MiddleClass WorkingClass

TwoParentHome SingleParentHome

ThereportbytheInstituteforEducationfoundthat52-53%ofnewlyqualifiedteachers

(NQTs)didnotfeelqualifiedtoteachBAMEpupils.MembersoftheTaskForceechoed

thesesentimentsandconfirmedthattheythemselveshadalsobeensubjectedtolow

expectationsfromtheirteachers.

Studieshaveshownthatpreconceivednotionsofhowdifferentethnicgroupsandgenders

arelikelytoperformcaninfluencemarking:whenLeedsUniversityintroducedname-blind

markingthescoresofBlackstudentsandwomenincreasedby12%.Thislevelofdifference

affectswholecareers.

TheRunnymedeTruststatesthatthereisarangeofevidencesuggestingthatschool

decisionmakingandselectionprocessesaboutaccesstocourseandqualificationroutesin

schoolsworkagainsttheinterestsofBlackstudents.“Forexample,evidencesuggeststhat

Blackpupilsaremorelikelytobeenteredforlowertierexams,meaningthatthesestudents

 17Rollock,N.(2007)LegitimisingBlackacademicfailure:deconstructingstaffdiscoursesonacademicsuccess,

appearanceandbehaviour.InternationalStudiesinSociologyofEducation,17:3,275-287

Page 17: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 17/56

 

17

areonlyabletoabletoachieveamaximumgradeofaCorD,andotherevidencehasfound

thatBlackCaribbeanandAfricanstudentsarelesslikelytobeindentifiedforgiftedand

talentedprogrammes”.

EvidencealsosuggeststhatChineseandIndianstudentsaremorelikelytobeenteredinto

highersets.Settingcanbeproblematicgiventhatapupil'ssetisdecidedatayoungage,and

evidencesuggeststhatteacherassumptionsthatBlackstudentswillachievepoorlyand

Chinese/Indianstudentshighlymayresultinchildrenbeingputinaninappropriateset,and

thuseffectivelypre-determinehowhighagradeitispossibleforthemtoachieve.

Thereisalsoaphenomenonininnercitiesforsomeschoolstohaveafarhigherproportion

ofBAMEpupilsthanwouldbeexpectedfromthediversityofthecatchmentarea–theTask

Forceheardofaschoolwith90%BAMEpupilsinanareawheretheBAMEcommunitywas

30%–duetowhiteparentssendingtheirchildrenelsewhere.

Itisclearthatthereisalongwaytogobeforeraceequalityinschoolsisnolongeraproblem.Itisthereforeamistakeforthegovernmenttohavedecidednottoproceedwith

thestatutorycodeofpracticeonthePublicSectorEqualityDutyandstatutorycodesof

practiceforschoolsandthefurtherandhighereducationsector,andinsteadhavethe

EqualityandHumanRightsCommissionissuenon-statutoryguidancewhichinpracticecan

bewidelyignored.TheTaskForceagreeswiththeEHRCthatratherthancreatinga

regulatoryburden,statutorycodeshaveavaluableroletoplayinmakingclearerto

everyonewhatisandisnotneededinordertocomplywiththeEqualityAct.

Recommendation4

Thatteachertrainingshouldbeimprovedinordertoequipteacherstodealwithissuesofraceandhelpthemrecognisetheirownpotentialunconsciousbiases.

Failuretoaddressissuesofrace

TheTaskForceregretsthatuptothispoint,theopportunityhasnotbeengraspedto

addressissuessurroundingraceasafundamentalcomponentofteachertrainingandthat

manyNQTsareunder-preparedtodealwithissuesinvolvingrace.

OnecasehighlightedbytheIoEreportgivestheexampleofamotherwhosesonwasvictim

toovertracismbyhispeersataprivateschool.Theschoolwasunresponsivetothe

situationandfearingforthechild’swellbeing,hismothertookhimoutoftheschool.Thereportexplainsthattheschool’sseniormanagementrefusedtogivethemother’s

complaintsanylegitimacy,onlybecomingmoreentrenchedintheirpositionwhenshe

explicitlynamedracismasthecauseofherson’sproblems.

Page 18: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 18/56

 

18

Punishmentandexclusions

AreportbytheCentreforSocialJusticestatesthatin2009/2010therewereanestimated

5,740permanentexclusions,and331,380fixed-termexclusions,amongstapupilpopulation

ofapproximately8-million.18

TheRunnymedeTruststatesthatin2007-8the8,130permanentexclusionsrepresented

approximately0.11%ofallpupilswhile5.14%oftheschoolpopulationexperienced

temporaryorfixedtermexclusionsduringthesameperiod.Whilewhiteboysrepresented

0.18%ofthepermanentlyexcludedpupils,BlackCaribbeanboysrepresented0.53%.

AccordingtotheEHRC,thelowestpermanentexclusionrateswereamongtheSouthAsian

community,withfiveoutofevery10,000pupilsbeingexcluded,followedbychildrenwith

onewhiteandoneAsianparent.“Thehighestratesofpermanentexclusionsamongethnic

minoritygroupswerefoundamongBlackCaribbeanpupils(30per10,000pupils),pupilsfromIrishTravellerbackgrounds(30per10,000pupils)andGypsy/Romapupils(whohad

thehighestrateat38per10,000pupils).Takentogethertheseratesarebetweenthreeand

fourtimestheoverallexclusionrate,althoughcautionisneededinusingtheseestimates

duetothepossibleunderrecordingofpupilsfromtheGypsy/RomaandIrishTraveller

groups,andthesmallpopulationsizes.”19

TherateatwhichBlackCaribbeanpupilsareexcludedfromschoolhasdeclinedoverthe

pastfewyears.However,thelatestfiguressuggestthatBlackCaribbeanpupilsarestillthree

timesmorelikelytobeexcludedfromschoolthanallpupilsnationally.

TheChildren’sCommissionerforEngland’sinquiryintoschoolexclusionsrequestedthatthe

DeptforEducationundertakeananalysisofthecorrelationbetweentheproportionofa

school’spopulationwhocomefromthoseethnicgroupswhichhaveabove-average

exclusionratesinthenationalstatistics,andthelikelihoodofthosechildrentobeexcluded.

Thereport,publishedinMarch2012,found:“Childrenfromtherelevantethnicgroupswere

muchmorelikelytobeexcludedwhentheywereinasmallminorityinaschoolthanwhen

theywerewithlargernumbersofchildrenfromthesameethnicgroupasthemselves.”20

IftherewasaninherentissuewiththebehaviourofBlackCaribbeanpupils,thenthemore

suchpupilsthereareinaschoolthemoreexclusionstherewouldbe.ThestatisticalevidencefromtheDeptforEducationshowsthattheoppositeisthecase.TheInquiryheard

evidencetosuggestthatthisrelatedtothereluctancetodirectlyaddressissuesofracein

theeducationsystem,witheitherpupilsorprofessionals.

Theeffectonthelivesofthoseexcludedisprofound.Withonly15%ofpermanently

excludedyoungpeoplereintegratedintomainstreamschool,exclusionhasanenormous

impactonthepossibilityofastudent’ssuccessfultransitionintoadulthoodand

 18

http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/client/downloads/CSJ_Educational_Exclusion_WEB_12.09.11.pdf19

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/how_fair_is_britain_ch10.pdf20Theynevergiveuponyou-OfficeoftheChildren’sCommissionerSchoolExclusionsInquiry

http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_561

Page 19: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 19/56

 

19

employment.21

Beingexcludedfromschoolhasamassiveimpactonapupil’sattainment

levels.Forexample,researchbyDavidGillbornandDavidDrewfoundthatexcludedpupils

arefourtimesmorelikelytofinishtheireducationwithouthavinggainedacademic

qualifications.Subsequentaccesstohighereducationandemploymentisthereforelimited.

Furthermore,ifachildhasloweracademicachievementtheyaremorelikelytobecome

involvedincriminalactivity.

Aproblemexistswithintheeducationsystemwhere,toooften,punishmentandexpulsion

areseenastheonlycourseofaction.TheCentreforSocialJusticestatesthattheuseof

referrals,part-timetimetables,managedmovesanddualregistrationshouldallbetaken

intoaccountwhenestimatingtheexclusionrateasthesearenotcountedinofficialfigures,

howevertheycanbeusedasaproto-exclusionarytactic.

TheChildren’sCommissioner’sreportalsostatesthatwhileexclusionisasanctionusedin

England,itisnotusedmuchinmainlandEurope.Theinquiryfoundevidenceofillegal

activitybysomeschoolsintheiruseofunofficialexclusion,andheardaccusationsthatacademiesareattemptingtoavoidscrutinyoftheirexclusionsbyexternalindependent

appealpanels,andrefusingtohearappealsfromparents.Theinquiryalsosetout

alternativestoexclusioncurrentlyinuseinschoolswhichincludedimplementingthe

‘restorativejustice’approach,dealingwithunderlyingbehaviouralissuesratherthansimply

‘parking’them,ensuringcurriculumcontinuityandallowingstudentstobemoreeasily

reintegratedintothemainstreamwhentheirissueshavebeenaddressed.BelindaHopkins,

theDirectorofTransformingConflict,alsomadetheTaskForceawareoftheworkofthe

Pan-LondonBackOnTrackProjectanditssuccessfulpilotofrestorativeapproachesinPupil

ReferralUnits.

TheevidencepresentedtotheTaskForceshowedstrongopinionsontherightsgivento

childrenwhohasbeenunjustlyorillegallyexcludedfromschool.TheTaskForcehearda

numberofexamplesofchildrenwhohadessentiallybeenillegallyexcludedandhadnoright

toappealortochallengethisdecision.TheTaskForcefeltthatitisentirelyagainstnatural

 justiceforIndependentAppealsPanelstobedebarredfromreturningtoaschoolachild

whoisfoundtohavebeenunjustlyorillegallyexcludedbythatschool.

Whilein-schoolcentresarebetterthansendingchildrentoPupilReferralUnitselsewhere,

thereremainsaconcernthatethnicminoritypupilscouldbedisproportionatelyreferredto

thesecentresjustastheyalreadyaretotheunits.

Recommendation5

NotingthatexclusionofpupilsfromschoolisusedfarmorewidelyinEnglandthanitisin

mainlandEurope,theTaskForcerecommendsthattheDepartmentforEducationimplement

theChildren’sCommissioner’sreportintothepreventionofandpositivealternativesto

exclusion.Itshouldalsodevelopguidanceonthis.

TheTaskForcefurtherrecommendsthattheEducationActshouldbeamendedtoreinstate

therightofappealspanels,whentheyfindthataschoolhasunjustlyorillegallyexcludeda

 21JosephRowntreeFoundation.SchoolexclusionandtransitionintoadulthoodinAfrican-Caribbean

communities.http://www.irr.org.uk/pdf/JRF_exclusions.pdf  

Page 20: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 20/56

 

20

child,tohavethepowertoorderthechild’sreturntotheschoolfromwhichtheywere

excluded.

TheTaskForcealsorecommendstheintroductionofaSchoolsOmbudsmantodealwith

issuesofdisciplineandtoenforceaproportionalresponsebyschoolswhendealingwithall

 pupilsincludingthosefromBAMEbackgrounds.Thiscouldbeaccompaniedbymore

advocatesforchildreningeneral.Expelledstudentsshouldalsobeaffordedaccesstoa

trainedadvocatetoensurethattheyareproperlyrepresented.

Peergrouppressure

AstudyintoethnicityandeducationinEnglandandEuropestatedthatmorethan70%of

pupilsfromallethnicgroupsstronglyrecognisethateducationisakeymeansofimproving

life-chancesanddespitewidelyvaryinghomebackgroundsandschoolexperiences

aspirationswerehigh.Howeveroveraquarterofpupilsdidnottakethisviewandthis

educationaldisaffectionacrossallgroupsneedsaddressing.22

Thereispressurewithincertainpeergroupsforyoungpeopletoshunthe“overtprestige”ofacademicachievementandtheplauditsthatcomewithitandtoinsteadseek“covert

prestige”bydistancingthemselvesfromacademicachievementandthosethatseekit,in

favourofbeingseentobe“cool”insteadofa“geek”.23

Currentlyitseemsthatinsomecasespeergroupsarehavingmoreofaninfluencethan

teachersontheattitudeofchildrentoschool:“…boysareoftenbalancingthedesiretodo

wellandsatisfyingtheexpectationsofpeerpressuretobeseenas‘cool’and‘popular’,with

theepitomeofhegemonicmasculinityinvolving‘hardness,sportingprowess,coolness,

casualtreatmentofschoolworkandbeingadeptatcussing’”.24

Someyoungworkingclasspeopleinurbanareasharbourdailyfearsfortheirsafetyand

eventheirlives.Thenationaleducationsystemhastorecognisethatattendanceand

behaviour,tosaynothingoffutureprospects,aresecondaryconcernstoyoungmenand

womeninthissituation.

Withinthecatchmentareaforsomeinnercityschoolstheremaybeseveral“postcode

boundaries”whichserveasindicatorsoftheturfofrivalgangs,manyofwhomareorhave

beenextremelyviolent.Thusitisimportanttorecognisethatwheremembersofrivalgangs

areattendingthesameschool,thepotentialforantagonismandconflictmustbesomething

teachersaremadeawareofandtrainedtodealwith.25

 22

Law,IanandSwann,SarahEthnicityandEducationinEnglandandEurope,gangstas,geeksandgorjas,

Ashgate2011.p.14023

Law,IanandSwann,SarahEthnicityandEducationinEnglandandEurope,gangstas,geeksandgorjas,

Ashgate201124

SarahFinney,Ian,LawandSarahSwannSearchingforautonomy:youngBlackmen,schoolingand

aspirations201225HomeOffice,2011.StatutoryGuidance:Injunctionstopreventgang-relatedviolence.http://www.official-

documents.gov.uk/document/other/9780108511288/9780108511288.pdf

Page 21: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 21/56

 

21

EnglishasasecondLanguage

LastyearstatisticsreleasedbytheDepartmentforEducationshowedthatnearly1-million

studentsinEnglandspeakEnglishasasecondlanguage.ArecentstudyfoundthatPunjabi

wasthemostfrequentlyspokenlanguageamongpupilswhodidnothaveEnglishasafirstlanguage.AfterthatthemostcommonlanguageswereUrdu,Bengali,Gujarati,Somali,

Polish,Arabic,Portuguese,TurkishandTamil.

Differencesinbasicskillsbyethnicgrouplargelydisappearifthosewhosesecondlanguage

isEnglishareexcluded.ThelowlevelofthewhollyEnglish-speakingBlackAfrican/Caribbean

populationisthemainexceptiontothis.TheEHRCreportconcludesthereforethatethnic

differencesarepartlybutnotwhollyrelatedtothesignificantnumberofpeopleinethnic

minoritygroupswhospeakEnglishasasecondlanguage.26

 

WhiletherehasbeencontroversyovertheriseinchildrenspeakingEnglishasanadditionallanguage(EAL),thereisdatatosuggestthatthefiguresreportedinthemediamaybe

misleading.First,someofthechildrendescribedasspeakingEnglishasasecondlanguage

comefromfamilieswhichspeakfluentEnglishbutchoosetospeaktotheirchildrenathome

intheirnativetongue.Secondly,datasuggeststhatEALstudentsgoontooutperformthose

lateronintheirschooling.Finally,therehavebeensuggestionsthatthosewhogrowup

speakingmorethanonelanguagesuccessfullygoontolearnadditionallanguageslateron

intheirschoolcareer27

.

However,theTaskForcerecognisesthatsupportforEnglishlanguagecanbeahugely

importanttoolofsocialmobility.CurrentlytheCoalitionprovidesextrafundingtoschoolsto

helpthemteachchildrenwithEnglishasanadditionallanguage.PupilslearningEALaregenerallytaughtinthemainstreamclassalongsidetheirpeers.Newlyarrivedpupilsare

usuallygivenadditionalhelpinlearningEnglishbyspecialistteachersorbybilingual

classroomassistants.

MuchofthecostofthishascomefromtheEthnicMinorityAchievementGrant,outlined

above.Theconsultationnotedthatbetween2006and2011thepercentageofEALlearners

reachingtheexpectedlevelsatKeyStage1hadincreasedfrom77.6%to82%inreading;

from74%to78%inwriting,andfrom84.9%to86%inmaths.AtKeyStage2overthesame

periodthepercentageofEALpupilsreachingtheexpectedlevelinEnglishandmaths

combinedincreasedbymorethaneightpercentagepoints,from61.9%to70%.28

TheTaskForcebelievesthatgiventhattheproportionofpupilswithEnglishasasecond

languageisincreasing,thisisnotthetimetoreducethisfundingnortoriskearmarked

fundsbeingusedforotheractivities.

TheGovernmentisalsosupportingEnglishLanguagecoursesinFurtherEducationandin

March2012,theyannounced£10mofextrafundingforFurtherEducationcollegesto

provideEnglishLanguagecoursesfornon-nativespeakers.Thefundingistargetedat

helpingthosewhoarenotinemploymentandareunabletoaffordnormalcoursefees.A

 26http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/how_fair_is_britain_ch10.pdf  27

 http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001012/index.shtml28http://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/ca/digitalAssets/200053_brief_summary_of_Government_policy_i

n_relation_to_EAL_Learners.pdf

Page 22: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 22/56

 

22

highproportionofthoseidentifiedbeinginneedofsupportarewomenwithchildrenliving

inareasalreadyfacingsignificantcohesionchallenges.29

TheTaskForcewelcomesthis

funding.

PositiveactioninschoolsTheTaskForceheardmuchevidencethatpositiverolemodelsarevitalinapupil’sjourney

throughtheschoolingsystemandthatmentoringcanbeavaluablesupport.

RolemodelscanprovideavaluableservicetochildrenfromBAMEbackgrounds:“A

longitudinalstudyofyoungadolescentsrevealedthatstudentswhoreportedhavingatleast

onerace-andgender-matchedrolemodelatthebeginningofthestudyperformedbetter

academicallyupto24monthslater,reportedmoreachievement-orientedgoals,enjoyed

achievement-relevantactivitiestoagreaterdegree,thoughtmoreabouttheirfutures,and

lookeduptoadultsratherthanpeersmoreoftenthandidstudentswithoutarace-and

gender-matchedrolemodel.”30

TheTaskForcewasalsomadeawareofanumberofgoodmentoringschemesforethnic

minoritychildrencurrentlyoperatingthroughouttheUK,assistingpupilswiththeir

schoolingandgenerallyraisingthelevelofaspirationamongstpupilsfromaBAME

background.OrganisationslikeMosaicaresettingthestandardswhichothermentoring

programmes,nationwide,shouldfollow.

TheTaskForcefurtherwelcomestheannouncementbyNickCleggoffurtherfundingto

secondaryschoolstoenablethemtoprovideintensivecatch-uptuitionforallYearSeven

pupilswhostartsecondaryschoolwithouthavingachievedtherequiredlevelsinEnglishandmaths.Only30%ofthosenotachievingLevel4inreadingattheendofprimaryschool

goontoachieve5A*toCatGCSE.Forpupilsonfreeschoolmealsthisdropsto7%.The

newcatch-uppremiumislikelytoassistalmost110,000pupilsthisyear.

Recommendation6

Schoolsshouldmaintainlinkswithex-pupilsandinvitesuccessfulex-pupilsfromacrossall

ethnicitiestovisitandtalktostudents.

Recommendation7

TheDepartmentforEducationshouldestablishacentraldatabaseofthementoring programmesoperatingnationallyandcreatetheconditionsforcommunicationsbetween

theprogrammestoshareexamplesofbestpractice.Bestpracticeformentoring

 programmesofthisnatureshouldstresstheimportanceofprovidingrace-and-gender

matchedrolemodelsforBAMEchildrenintheeducationsystem.

 29

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/2092103.pdf  30

http://www.mills.edu/academics/faculty/educ/szirkel/02tcr.pdfSabrinaZirkel, Isthereaplaceforme?Role

modelsandacademicidentityamongwhitestudentsandstudentsofcolour ,TeachersCollegeRecord, (Vol.104,No.2,2002).

 

Page 23: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 23/56

 

23

Recommendation8

Thegovernmentshouldtalktopupilsandstudentsabouttheireducationexperience,they

shouldusetheseconversationstoproducestandardlanguageregardingwhatpupilscan

expectandareentitledtowithregardtotheireducationalexperience.This“Learners

Charter”willbethebasisbywhichallpupilscanexpecttobetreatedandwillhavedirect

 feedinfromthoselearnersconsulted.Thisdocumentshouldbeupdatedeverycoupleof

years. 

Recommendation9

TheGovernmenttosetasideacertainamountofresearchfunding,fromthegeneral

educationresearchbudget,forresearchspecificallyofraceissues.

Recommendation10

Monitoringbeemployedonanationalscaletotrackthesuccessofpoliciesdesignedtobring

aboutracialequality.Monitoringenablesustoidentifyinequalitiesineducationalpractice

andtotargetsupportappropriately.

Recommendation11

WeshouldcelebrateeveryaspectofBritishcultureandnotjustthediverseaspects.Being

BritishandcelebratingthatmeanscelebratingtraditionalBritishcultureonanequallevelas

diverseBritishcultureandBAMEculturewithintheUK,creatinganequalplatformandan

areainwhichallofBritishculturecanengageandcommunicate.

 

Supplementaryschools

TheTaskForcehaswelcomedthegrowingacknowledgementbyChildren’sTrusts,theDept

forEducationandotheragencies,ofthevalueofsupplementaryschools31

.Theseschools,setupbyvoluntarygroups,runintheeveningsoratweekendsandofferarangeoflearning

opportunities,includingnationalcurriculumsubjects(English,maths,scienceandothers),

religiousstudies,mother-tongueclasses,culturalstudiesandarangeofextraactivities,such

assport,music,danceanddrama.

Whiletherootsofthesupplementaryschoolbeganwiththetraditional“Sundayschool”,

manysuchschoolshavebeensetupbyminoritycommunitieswhohavefeltthattheregular

schoolsystemhasletdowntheirchildrenorbecausetheywanttoensurethattheirchildren

maintainlinguisticandculturaltieswiththeirheritage.Theseschoolshaveenabledchildren

tobefluentintheircommunity’smother-tonguelanguageandculturewhichhasenhancedtheiridentitiesinpositiveways.Bilingualismhasalsobeenshowntohelpchildren’slearning

asitallowsthemtothinkaboutideasintwodifferentlanguages.Italsogivestheman

advantageinanincreasinglyglobalemploymentmarket.

Theseschoolscanbeaverypositiveinfluencewithincommunities,particularlywhenother

institutionsengagepositivelywiththem.FrithManorPrimarySchoolinFinchley,for

example,hasabout70Japanesefamiliesintheschool.IthoststheJapaneseschoolat

weekendsanditspositiveandimaginativeapproachtodiversityhasledtoFrithManor

 31

http://www.continyou.org.uk/what_we_do/supplementary_education/

Page 24: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 24/56

 

24

puttingJapaneselanguagelearningonthecurriculumwhichnotonlyfostersamoreclosely

knitcommunity,butalsoenhancestheeducationofallpupils.

TheTaskForcewelcomestheshiftintheapproachthattheauthorities,includingchildren’s

trusts,arenowtakingtosupplementaryschoolsandfurtherwelcomesthegrowing

partnershipsbetweenmainstreamprimaryandsecondaryschoolswithsupplementary

schools.

 

Gypsy,RomaandIrishTravellercommunities(GRT) TheTaskForcefeltitnecessarytoputaspotlightononeparticularethnicgroupwhose

childrenhavefallenwaybehindtheirpeersineducationaloutcomes.TheCouncilofEurope

hassuggestedtherewerearound300,000GypsiesandTravellersintheUKin2002.32

Ofall

minorityethnicgroupsdiscussed,educationaltakeup,especiallysecondaryeducation,is

especiallylowamongsttheGRTcommunities.33

EducationalattainmentislowerthanthenationalUKaverage.In2011,just12%ofGypsy,

RomaandTravellerpupilsachievedfiveormoreGCSEs,includingEnglishandMaths,

comparedwith58.2%forallpupils34

.Inprimaryschools,justaquarterachievednational

expectationsinEnglishandMaths,comparedwiththree-quartersofallpupils.Wellover

40%ofGypsy,RomaandTravellerpupilsareeligibleforfreeschoolmeals–risingto57.5%

inSpecialSchools.

TheCoalitionGovernmenthasannouncedseveralpolicies,suchasthePupilPremiumand

thefreeprovisionofearlyyearschildcare,thatshouldbedirectlybeneficialtochildrenfromtravellerbackgrounds.However,moremustbedonetoassesstakeup,especiallyfromthis

community.

Somelocalinitiativeshaveshownthatentrenchedpatternsofschoolnon-attendancecan

besubstantiallytransformedwitheffectiveoutreachprogrammesbuttheyremainmarginal

andinsecureanditisvitaltobuildonthesuccessoftargetedinitiativessuchasthe

AchievementServiceprogrammesandEarlyYearsOutreachteamsandalsothatschools

showpositiveleadershipanddonotturnawaythesechildrenduetoconcernsoverabsence

figures.EmpowermentofGRTcommunityorganizations,adultmentorsandsecuring

involvementoffamiliesandparentsisalsovitalinachievingthisobjective.35

The Coalition’s Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Tackling Inequalities in the Gypsy and

TravellerCommunity, ledby LibDem RaceEqualityMinisterDonFoster MP, has identified

 32

McNamara,Oetal(2009)TheleadershipaspirationsandcareersofBlackandethnicminorityteachers

TDA/NASUWT:Nottingham33

Rollock(2009)SchoolGovernorsandRaceEqualityin21stCenturyschoolsRunnymedeTrust:London

www.runnymedetrust.org34

Source:DeptforEducation

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/inclusionandlearnersupport/mea/improvingachievement/

a0012528/gypsy-roma-and-traveller-achievement35Law,IanandSwann,SarahEthnicityandEducationinEnglandandEurope,gangstas,geeksandgorjas,

Ashgate2011

Page 25: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 25/56

 

25

manyoftheproblemsaffectingthisgroup,particularlyintheareaofeducation.Wewelcome

theCoalition’sresolvetotacklesomeoftheseissues,inparticulartacklingbullying,exclusion

andpoorattendance.36

TheVirtualHeadteachersPilotSchemeisaninnovativeprojectwhich

haspotentialtoberolledoutmorewidely,andwestronglysupporttherecognitionofthe

Gypsy,RomaandTravellerCommunityasavulnerablegroupundertheOfstedFramework.

However,webelievethereisstillmuchmoreworkthatneedstobedone.

Recommendation12

Launchanewcreativenationalcampaigntoaddressliteracyandgenerateaspirational

capitalamongstthesecommunities,ledbythesecommunitieswithgovernment,LEAand

schoolsupport,inordertoincreasetheparticipationofGypsy,RomaandTraveller(GRT)

childreninsecondaryeducationastheyfeelparticularlydisenfranchisedfromtheeducation

system.

Recommendation13

Itisvital,whenteachingchildrenabouttoleranceandracialdiversity,thatGypsy,Romaand

IrishTravellersareincluded.Anyteachertrainingaimedtoimproveunderstandingof

culturaldiversitymustalsogiveaholisticviewoftheissuessurroundingGRTchildren.The

DepartmentforEducationshouldcommissionastudytoseewhatoutreachprogrammes,for

examplehomevisits,havebeenshowntobethemosteffectiveinterventions.

 

36http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/inclusionandlearnersupport/mea/improvingachievemen

t/a0012528/gypsy-roma-and-traveller-achievement  

Page 26: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 26/56

 

26

Furtherandhighereducation 

TherecordingofethnicitydataiscompulsoryonlyforUK-domiciledstudentsandsothe

datausedinthissectionisrestrictedtoBritishstudentslivingintheUK.Inthe2008/09

schoolyear,ethnicitydatawasknownfor95%ofUKdomiciledfirst-yearundergraduates.

Theproportionofstudentsfromethnicminoritygroupshasbeenrisingfairlysteadilyover

thelast12years.Inthe2008/09intake,ethnicminoritiesconstituted20%ofallfirst-yearUK

domiciledstudentsofknownethnicitystudyingfortheirfirstundergraduatedegree.37 

AccordingtoanalysisconductedfortheNationalEqualityPanel,allethnicminoritygroups

haveseenariseintheirshareofthetotalstudentpopulation,withthelargestincrease

beingamongBlackstudentswhorosefrom3.6%in1995to5.7%in2007ofthe

undergraduatepopulation.38

However,itisimportanttonotethecrucialfactthatnearlyhalfofallBlack,Pakistani,

BangladeshiandIndiangraduatesattendedpost-1992universitiesorformerpolytechnics,

comparedtoathirdofotherethnicgroups.ThisisdespitethefactthatIndianstudentsare

thesecondhighestachievingethnicgroup.

Allminorityethnicgroups,withtheexceptionofstudentsfromChinesebackgrounds,are

morelikelytobeat‘new’institutions.TherearemorestudentsofBlackCaribbeanoriginat

LondonMetropolitanUniversitythanatalltheRussellGroupuniversitiesputtogether.39

Studentsfromdifferentminorityethnicgroupshavedifferentoutcomeswhenstudyingfor

theirfirstdegree,withstudentsfromsomeminorityethnicgroupsfarlesslikelytoleave

universitywithafirstoruppersecondclassdegreethanothers.In2008/09Whitestudents

weremostlikelytoachievethislevelwithnearly7in10(67%)comparedtojustfewerthan

4in10Blackstudents(38%).40

Overthepastsevenyears,thepercentageofUK-domicileleaversachievingafirstclassor

uppersecondclasshonoursdegreehassteadilyincreasedformostethnicgroups.

ForUK-domicilequalifiers,thedifferencebetweentheproportionofWhitequalifierswho

obtainedafirstclassoruppersecondclasshonoursandthatofBAMEqualifiers(the

attainmentgap)increasedfrom17.2%in2003/04toapeakof18.8%in2005/06andisnow

at18.6%in2009/10.41

Minorityethnicstudents,however,areonlyachievingtheseoutcomesafterovercoming

additionalbarriers.AstudybytheNationalUnionofStudents42

statesthat“thatasimple

explanationfortheattainmentandsatisfactiongapofBlackstudents

doesnotexist;itisacomplexissuewitharangeofcausalfactors.AlthoughtheBlack

 37

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/how_fair_is_britain_ch10.pdf38

ibid39

RunnymedeTrust,200740

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/how_fair_is_britain_ch10.pdf41ibid

42RaceforEquality:areportontheexperiencesofBlackstudentsinfurtherandhighereducation-NUS  

Page 27: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 27/56

 

27

studentpopulationisahighlyheterogeneousgroup,ourresearchidentifiesandhighlights

commonconcernsamongBlackstudents,whichareclearlylinkedtotheirattainmentand

overallsatisfactionyetoftenoverlookedbyinstitutions.”

HowevertheNUSsurveyofalmost1,000BAMEstudentsconcludedthatinstitutionalracism

wasakeyfactor,thatmanystudentsfeltalienatedandexcluded,andfeltasiftheywere

‘invisible’tolecturers.34%statedtheyfeltunabletobringtheirperspectiveasaBlack

studenttolecturesandtutormeetings.“Arunningthemethroughboththesurveyand

focusgroupdatawasafrustrationthatcoursesweredesignedandtaughtbynon-Black

teachers,andoftendidnottakeintoaccountdiversebackgroundsandviews.”

Thereportalsofoundthatschoolingandcollegeeducationhadadirectimpact,withBAME

studentscommentedthatbeingfromalowsocio-economicbackgroundmeantthattheydid

nothaveaccesstoahighstandardofeducationintheirschoolyearsandthattheydidnot

havethesameacademicskills,suchasstudyskillsandunderstandingtheoreticaldebate,as

theirwhitepeers.

Asreportedintheearliersectiononschools,somerespondentsalsoreportedthattheyhad

encounteredwidelyheldstereotypesbasedonraceandattainmentfromteacherswhileat

schoolandcollege.

TheTaskForcediscussedtheworkofthegroupAimhigherinassistingstudentsfromethnic

minoritybackgroundstoattendhighereducation.

DrBrianAlleyne,SeniorLectureratGoldsmiths,UniversityofLondon,toldtheTaskForce

thathefeltmoreeffortshouldbefocussedonengagingtheBAMEcommunitywithscienceeducation.CareersinthisfieldhavenothistoricallybeenundertakenbypeoplefromBAME

backgrounds,resultinginyoungpeoplefromthesecommunitiesnotviewingthosecareers

asrealistic,regardlessofwhetherornottheyhavethenecessaryqualificationsandfalling

backintocareerstheyseeasmoreinlinewiththeirculture.

Whichuniversity?

AstudybytheECUfoundthatpost-graduationemploymentshowedwidemarginsbetween

ethnicities.Thestudyfoundthatin2009/10,12.6%ofBAMEstudentsleavinguniversity,

particularlyChinese(14.7%)andBlack(14.3%)leavers,weremorelikelytobeassumedtobeunemployedthanwhiteleavers(6.2%)

43Thestudyexplainedthat“Post-graduation

employmentmaybelinkedinparttotheinstitutionstudentsattended(someinstitutions

aremoreprestigiousandappealingtoemployersthanothers)andthedegreeclassification

thatstudentsareawarded.Manygraduatejobs,andoftenfundingforpostgraduate

courses,havecriteriathatapplicantsshouldhavea2:1orabove,whichimpactsonBAME

studentsastheyarelesslikelytobeawardeda2:1orabove.”

Asstatedearlier,theRunnymedeTrusthasalsoreported44

thatwhilsttheproportionof

 43

Datasource:ECUpublication‘Equalityinhighereducation:Statisticalreport2010.’ 44RunnymedeTrustsubmissiontotheWorkandPensionsSelectCommitteeInquiryintoYouthEmployment

andtheGovernment’sYouthEmploymentContract 

Page 28: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 28/56

 

28

universityplacestakenbyminorityethnicstudentshasincreasedfrom13%ofstudentsin

1994/95to23%in2008/09,afigurebroadlyproportionatetotheirsizeintheyoung

population,thesestudentsaremorelikelytoattendlessprestigiousinstitutionswhichhave

loweremploymentrates.“Forexample,atleast44%ofallBlack,Pakistani,Bangladeshiand

Indiangraduatesattendedpost-1992universities,orformerpolytechnicscomparedto34%

ofotherethnicgroups.Inaddition,8%ofallBlackuniversitystudentsattendRussellGroup

universitiescomparedto24%ofallWhitestudents.In2009onlyoneBlackCaribbean

studentwasacceptedtostudyonacourseatOxfordUniversity.”

Thesetrendshaveanimpactongraduateemploymentprospectsandearnings.Minority

ethnicgraduatesaremorethantwiceaslikelytobeunemployedaftergraduationcompared

toWhitestudents.Manyoftheuniversitieswiththehighestminorityethnicpopulations

havethelowestemploymentrates,andgiventhecurrentlypoorprospectsforgraduates

generally,thisislikelytohaveanadverseeffectonminorityethnicemployment.Studyingat

aRussellGroupUniversityhasbeenfoundtoboostagraduate’searningsbybetween3and

6%comparedtostudyingata‘new’university.

Recommendation14

RequiretheEqualityandHumanRightsCommissiontoensurethatinstitutionsoffurtherand

highereducationareenforcingcompliancewithraceequalitylegislationinfurtherand

highereducation.

Recommendation15

Requirealluniversitiestobefullytransparentaboutalltheselectioncriteriausedtoevaluate

studentapplicationsforplaces,includingforexamplewhichA-levelsubjectsarelikelyto

countfororagainstacandidate.

Recommendation16

Collegesanduniversitiesshouldadoptazero-tolerancepolicyregardingracistbehaviour,

incorporateraceawarenessmoreeffectivelyintostafftraining,andincreasefocusonsocial

inclusionandthestudentexperiencebothwithinandoutsidetheclassroom.

Recommendation17

TheRussellGroupuniversitiesshouldimprovetheiroutreachtoBAMEstudentsinorderto

improvetheirunder-representationintheseinstitutions.

Apprenticeships

TheEthnicMinorityBritishElectionStudy(EMBES)estimatesthatunemploymentwasakey

electionissueforminorityvoters.ThereportpointsoutthathalfofyoungBlackpeopleare

unemployed,aswellas31%ofyoungAsianpeople45

(Seelatersectiononemployment ).

MembersoftheTaskForceareconcernedthatifuncheckedthesetrendswillpersist,

 45

http://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/EMBESbriefingFINALx.pdf 

Page 29: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 29/56

 

29

therebycreatinganever-increasingracialsegregationwithintheworkingpopulationsof

youngpeople.46

Tostampoutdiscrimination,LiberalDemocratshavepledgedtoensurethateverycompany

thatemploysmorethan100peopleshouldhaveitspayarrangementsexaminedwitha

DiversityauditandanEqualPayAudit.Undertheseproposals,companieswouldbe

requiredtocomparethepaypeopledoingequalwork.Anypaygapsidentifiedthatcannot

besatisfactorilyexplainedwouldrequirethecompanytoproduceplanstoeliminatethem,

givingeveryoneafairdeal.

TheRunnymedeTrust’sreportalsofoundthatstudentswhodonothaveparental

connectionstoindustrywerelesslikelytobeabletogetaworkplacement,whichwas

essentialtoprogressinagivencareer.Theresearchfoundthat‘therearedeeplyembedded

notionsofthe‘idealstudent’and‘idealworkplacementcandidate’,whichfavourmiddle-

class,white,maleandnon-disabledstudents’47

TheTrust

48hasalsonotedthatethnicminoritiesareunder-representedonapprenticeship

schemes.DatahighlightedfromtheBlackTrainingandEnterpriseGrouplastyearshowed

that:

•  OfallapprenticesinEnglandin2009/10,7%werefromanethnicminority;1.6%

wereofmixedethnicity,2.9%wereAsian,2%Blackand0.5%Chineseorotherethnic

minority(TheDataService,2011).

•  Incomparison,14%oftheworkingagepopulationinEnglandisfromanethnic

minority.

Inadditionthereremainsagapintheinformationabouthowmanyapplicantsfor

apprenticeshipsarefromanethnicminority,andwhatproportionofthesearesuccessfulin

comparisonwithoverallsuccessrates.

TheTaskForcesharestheTrust’sconcernthatgovernmentactionisnotbeentakenquickly

enoughtoaddresstheseconcernsandthatstatementsfromConservativeministersappear

tobetakinga‘colour-blind’approachwhichineffectmeansfailingtoaddressraceissues.

Forexamplethereappearstobetheviewthatthe"GetBritainWorking"measureswhich

providesupporttoalleligibleunemployedjobseekersaccordingtotheirneeds,irrespective

ofethnicity,areanadequateresponsetothefactthathalftheeconomicallyactiveblackpopulationbetween18and24areunemployed.Notargetedinterventionisdeemedtobe

necessary.

Recommendation18

Thegovernmentshouldundertakemoreethnicmonitoringofapprenticeships,particularlyin

relationtoapplicationsuccessrates.

 46

http://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/EMBESbriefingFINALx.pdf47

Datasource:ECUpublication‘Equalityinhighereducation:Statisticalreport2010.’48RunnymedeTrustsubmissiontotheWorkandPensionsSelectCommitteeInquiryintoYouthEmployment

andtheGovernment’sYouthEmploymentContract 

Page 30: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 30/56

 

30

Thegovernmentshouldprovideanupdateonfindingsandnextstepsfollowingthe

completionofitsdiversitypilots,andshouldactinresponsetoembedthelearningfromthe

 pilotstoapprenticeshipsnationally.

Thegovernment’sapprenticeshipsreviewshouldincludeafocusonincreasingthenumbers

ofunder-representedgroupsonapprenticeshipsschemes.

Mentoringandcareersadvice

Somesectors,suchasthelegalprofession,havebeentakingadvantageofmentoring

schemeswithvaryingdegreesofsuccessforsomeyears.Fieldslikescienceandengineering

ontheotherhandhavenotexploitedmentorshiptoitsfullandmutuallybeneficialcapacity.

Mentorshipschemes,especiallyinareasofmisrepresentationareneeded,butthisneeds

long-terminvestmentandafterpotentiallyexploringtheoptionsforlocalpilotstheTask

Forcebelievessuchaschemeshouldberolledoutnationally.

Therehasbeenlittleresearchintoeffectiveindependentcareersadviceandguidancethat

youngpeoplefromBMEcommunitiesneedinordertoaccessawiderrangeofuniversities

orthelabourmarketongraduation.Worktoexplorewhethercareersadviceisresultingin

someethnicgroups(suchasIndianstudents)choosinglessprestigiousuniversitiesorlow

paid/over-competitivecareers,isneeded.

Recommendation19

Createawellstructuredandfinancednationalmentorshipand/orshadowingscheme.

Page 31: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 31/56

 

31

Sectiontwo:

Theteachingprofession

Introduction

Inamultiracialsocietytheaimmustbetoachieveadiverseandintegratedworkforcein

everyprofession,sothatnopartofourindustryiseverconsideredoff-limitstoany

community.Butachievingthisisofparticularimportanceintheteachingprofession.

Teachers,bydefinition,collectivelyhaveaprofoundimpactonourchildren’sworldvision

andontheirfutureprogress.Itisnotanexaggerationtosaythattheteachingprofessionshapesthedevelopmentofoursociety.

Areport49

bytheteachinguniontheNASUWTstatesthatthereasonsmostcommonlycited

fortheimportanceofrepresentativenessintheteacherworkforceinrelationtothe

demographicsofthepopulationare:BAMEteacherscouldactasinspirationalrolemodels

forstudentswithsimilarbackgroundsandthusimprovetheirachievement;thata

correspondencebetweentheethniccompositionoftheteacherworkforceandlocal

communitywasdesirable.Third,thattheycanhelptodispelstereotypicalbeliefsheldby

themajoritygroupabouttheminorities.Andfourth,thatitisofcoursealegitimaterightof

ethnicminoritiestohavefairopportunitiesforemploymentinthisprofession.

Sohowrepresentativeistheteachingprofession?

Primaryandsecondaryschools

In2009,12.9%ofpupilsinEnglandwerefromBAMEbackgrounds,yetthepercentageof

teachersfromBAMEbackgroundswasjustover2.4%.50

Almost20yearsagotheRampton

Reportexpressedconcernabouttheunder-representationofethnicminoritiesinthe

teachingpopulationofEnglandandWales.Whiletherehavebeenmajorstridestowards

betterrepresentation,thestatisticsshowthattherearestillstepsthatneedtobetakento

addresstheissue.51

ProgressinhighBAMErepresentationamongstteachershasbeengreatestintheareaswith

thehighestconcentrationofpupilsfromminoritybackgroundsandslowestwhereethnic

minoritypupilsmakeupamuchsmallerproportionoftheschoolpopulation.Fewerthan2%

ofteachersintheNorthEastandSouthWestarefromminoritybackgrounds,compared

 49

Theleadershipaspirationsandcareersofblackandminorityethnicteachers,ProfOlwenMcNamara,Prof

JohnHowson,ProfHelenGunterandAndrewFryers,NASUWTandNationalCollegeforLeadershipofSchools

andChildren’sServices50

HouseofCommonsEducationandSkillsCommittee.SecondaryEducation:TeacherRetentionand

Recruitment.FifthReportofSession2003-04.p.18http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmeduski/1057/1057.pdf51

http://www.sec-ed.co.uk/cgi-bin/go.pl/article/article.html?uid=42649;type_uid=2  

Page 32: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 32/56

 

32

witharound20%inLondonschools.52

Therearestudieswhichshowthatwhilstthose

trainedinEnglandcanfindpostsinareaswithethnicallydiversepopulations,BAME

teachersaredeterredfromseekingteachingpostsinotherpartsofthecountryandin

higherachievingschools,byrealorperceivedracistattitudestowardsthem.53

However,

NASUWTconsultationswithBAMEmembershavefoundthatBAMEteachersdoapplyfor

 jobsinschoolswithlowBAMErepresentation,butoftenreportdifficultiesinsecuringposts

intheseschools.

AnotherconcernthatwasraisedbytheevidencegatheredbytheTaskForcewasthelackof

support,trainingandfundingforBAMEteachers.Inpastyears,muchofthishadbeentied

toorganisationsandquangos,someofwhomhaveceasedtoexistorcutdowntheir

activitiesduetochangesinGovernmentpolicy.54

DrNicolaRollock55

,previouslytheHeadofEducationfortheRunnymedeTrustaswellasthe

developerofatrainingprogrammeonengagingwithculturalandethnicdiversityin

teaching,highlightedstatisticsaboutthenumberofNQTswhofeltpreparedtoteachstudentsfromBAMEbackgrounds.DrRollockraisedherconcernsthatover50%ofpeople

didnotfeelpreparedtoteachstudentsfromBAMEbackgrounds.56

AreportbyShowRacismtheRedCard,supportedbytheNationalUnionofTeachers,57

includedaquestionnaireinwhich83%ofrespondentsindicatedthattheyhadwitnessed

racistbehaviouramongsttheirpupilsandmanyfelttherewerestrongracistattitudes

amongstthepupilcohort.Racistbehaviourwasalsoevidencedamongstteachers,the

reportstated,fromtheuseofracistterminologyandtellingofracistjokestolower

expectationsofBAMEpupils.

However,lessthantwo-thirdsofrespondentshadreceivedtrainingonhowtotackleracism

andonlyaboutathirdhadhadtraininginrelationtosupporttheneedsoftravellers,

refugeesandasylumseekers.

Inthe2000-2001intake,6%ofprimaryschoolteachertraineesand8%ofsecondaryschool

teachertraineeswerefromminorityethniccommunities.Thisisequivalentto7.8%intotal.

Thenationaltargetsetforthe2005-2006intakewas9%.Fromtheethnicmonitoringdata

collectedbyvariousUniversitiesandtheTeacherTrainingAssociation,itcanbeestimated

thatgraduatesfromBlackandminorityethniccommunitiesarearoundthreetimesless

likelytoenrolinteachertraining.58

 52

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=605520653

https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/RB853.pdf54

ibid55

 VisitingResearchAssociate&AssociateEditorUK–RaceEthnicityandEducation,EducationalFoundations&

PolicyStudies,InstituteofEducation,UniversityofLondon  56

ibid57

TheBarrierstoChallengingRacismandPromotingRaceEqualityinEducationinEngland’sSchools,Show

RacismtheRedCard,supportedbytheNationalUnionofTeachers58RunnymedeTrust.BlackandMinorityEthnicissuesinteachingandlearning.BriefingPaper.p.5

http://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/projects/education/BMEissuesDiscussionPaper.pdf

Page 33: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 33/56

 

33

TheNASUWT2009researchfound‘Discrimination’,‘myethnicity,’‘recruitmentpolicies/

procedures’and‘attitudeofseniorcolleagues’allfeaturedintheoveralltoptenbarriers

andwerealmostallcitedbyallgroupsofrespondents.MaleBAMEteachersperceived

discriminationastheirgreatestbarriercomparedtotheirfemalecounterpartswhorankedit

sixth.59

BAMEseniorleaderswerealsofoundtobedisproportionatelyconcentratedinurban

schoolswithhighproportionsofBAMEpupilsandBAMEstaff.70%ofBAMEteachersand

schoolleaderssaidtheybelieveditwasharderforBAMEteacherstosecureleadership

poststhanforotherteachers.60

Since1997therehavebeeneffortsmadetoattractteachersfromBAMEbackgroundsinto

theteachingprofession.Underlyingofficialdiscourseinthissphereistheassumptionthat

the‘targetedrecruitment’ofmaleorethnicminorityteacherswillprovidemuch-needed

‘rolemodels’inschoolsforthosegroupsmostlikelytoexperienceeducationalfailureand

disaffection.61ThereisanecdotalevidencetoindicatethatsomeBAMEteachersfeelpigeonholedintoworkingindiversity-relatedareasratherthanhavingthechoiceofworking

inotherfieldsinstead.

ThekeymessagefromtheNASUWTresearchwasthattheprofessionasawholeisnot

perceivedbythemajorityofBMEteacherstobeinclusive.Furtherconcernhasbeen

expressedthatmanyacademiesorfreeschoolsoutoflocalauthoritycontrolwhichnow

formthemajorityofsecondaryschools–haveafalseunderstandingoftheirobligations

undertheEqualityAct,forexampleassumingthatthepublicsectorequalitydutyunderthe

EqualityActdoesnotapplytothem.

TheNASUWTstudyreportsthatethnicmonitoringoftheteacherworkforceishaphazard

andshouldbeundertakenatamoresystematicfashionatschool,localauthorityand

nationallevels.

Teachingstaffinfurtherandhighereducation

TheproportionofUKnationalacademicswhowereBAMEincreasedfrom5.9%in2003/04

to7.0%in2009/10.TheproportionofUKnationalBlackacademicswhowereprofessors

wasparticularlylow(3.6%).UKnationalChinese(12.3%),otherAsian(11.6%)andwhite(11.1%)academicsweremostlikelytobeprofessors.Ahigherproportionofwhiteacademic

staffearnover£50,000(28.9%)thanBAMEacademicstaff(25.5%).Similarlyforprofessional

andsupportstaff,5.2%ofwhitestaffand3.1%ofBAMEstaffearnover£50,000.UK

nationalBAMEacademicstaffweremorelikelytobeemployedonfixed-termcontracts

(33.5%)thanwhitestaff(28.1%).Fornon-UKnationalacademicstaffthisdifferencewas

 59

http://www.nasuwt.org.uk/consum/groups/public/@equalityandtraining/documents/nas_download/nasuwt

 _005377.pdf 60ibid 

61http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02680930305573

Page 34: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 34/56

 

34

wider,54.5%ofBAMEstaffwereonfixed-termcontractscomparedwith41.2%ofwhite

staff.62

Asdescribedabove,therewasconcernexpressedbymanywhosubmittedevidencetothe

TaskForceonthelackofteachertrainingandawarenessofissuesaroundrace,cultureand

identity.AsAnujaPrashar,amemberofourTaskForce,explained,itisamatterofwhatshe

termedculturaldexterity.Thereremainpersistentconcernsthatteachertrainingfocuses

tooheavilyonpunishmentasthebestwaytodealwithunrulypupilbehaviour,ratherthan

confrontingandengagingwiththerootcausesofthatbehaviour.Concernswereraised

withintheUniversityofLondonInstituteforEducation’sreportthatBlackparentsare

reluctanttoraiseissuesofracewithteachersasexperiencetellsthemthattheterm‘racism’

islikelytobemetwithresistanceandantagonismbyteachers,tutorsandschoolstaff.

Recommendation20

Thatequalitymonitoringbeundertakenatasystematiclevelatschool,localauthorityandnationallevels.ParticularmonitoringshouldbecarriedoutofBAMEteachers’progresson

theleadershipscale.

Recommendation21

Futureearlyyearworkerandteachertrainingprogrammesshouldensurethatthereis

 propertrainingonhowtodealwithstudentsfromdifferentethnicbackgroundsandare

comfortablewithissuessuchasculturalidentityandequalopportunities.Theabilityto

displayanunderstandingoftheissuessurroundingculturaldiversityandraceequality

shouldbeessentialinordertopassteachertraining.Ensurethatthecontinuedprofessionaldevelopmentofteachersisgearedtowardscreatingabetterunderstandingofissues

associatedwithpupils/studentsfromdifferentethnicbackgroundsandfurtherissueslike

culturalidentityandequalopportunities.

Recommendation22

BasedonevidencesubmittedbytheRunnymedeTrust,theTaskForcerecommendsthatthe

TeachingAgencyshouldconductawidespreadauditoftheneedsofallteachertraining

institutionsintheareaofraceequality.Theauditshouldincludetheassessingoftheneeds

ofthoseinvolvedinteachertraining,includingtrainers,lecturersandtrainers.

TheTeachingAgencyaswellasOfstedwillberesponsibleforoversightoftheraceequality

teachertraining.BothbodieswillappearbeforetheEducationSelectCommitteetodiscuss

thesuccessofthetrainingprogrammeandtoidentifyareasforimprovement.

InordertoencouragemoreBAMEstudentstoconsideracareerinteaching,aprogramme

shouldbedevelopedinwhichsuccessfulBAMEeducationalprofessionalsareencouragedto

visitneighbouringschoolstotellpupilswhatitistheyloveaboutteaching,howtheygotinto

itandthelevelsofsuccesstheyhaveachieved.

 62Equalityinhighereducation:statisticalreport2011,ECU

 

Page 35: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 35/56

 

35

Recommendation23

TheTeachingAgencyshouldreintroducetargetstorecruitethnicminorityteachers

(previouslyorganisedbytheTrainingandDevelopmentAgencyforSchools) 

Page 36: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 36/56

 

36

PartTwo:

RaceequalityandemploymentIntroduction

Morethan40yearshavepassedsinceracediscriminationinemploymentwasfirst

outlawed,andnodoubtitwashoped–perhapsbelieved–backin1968thatbynowthis

perniciousinjusticewouldhavebeeneradicated.Itisthereforeshockingthatafterallthis

timeemploymentdiscriminationcontinuestobeofmajorconcerntoBAMEworkers.

Thisconcernissupportedbyoverwhelmingstatisticalevidence.The60/76report63

,

publishedin2007,wastheworkoftheBusinessCommissionsetupbytheNational

EmploymentPanelundertheDepartmentforWorkandPensions.Thecommission

membersincludedtopexecutivesfrommajorcompaniessuchasthosefromRBS,Co-OperativeGroup,ITV,WHSmith,SkanskaUKplcandtopofficialsfromHMTreasuryandthe

DWP.

Employmentrates

TheirreportquotedLabourForceSurvey2007datashowingthattherewasa16pointgap

betweenthechancesofethnicminorityworkershavingajobandthoseofthewhite

workforce:“60%istheethnicminorityemploymentrate;76%isthewhiteemployment

rate”.

ThereportalsoshowsthattherearedistinctvariationsbetweenethnicgroupsandgenderThesituationhadchangedlittlesince1999:aCabinetOfficereportstatedthat80%ofwhite

menwereinemploymentin1999comparedwith65%of‘non-white’,whileforwomenit

was70%to49%64

.

ThisisshowninmoredetailintheEqualityandHumanRightsCommission’sTriennial

Review,201065

inwhichitquotesLabourForceSurveydatashowingthattheemployment

rateformenofChineseheritagewas64%,Indian78%andwhiteBritish79%whilefor

womenofChineseheritageitwas60%,Indian61%andwhiteBritishitwas72%.

TheemploymentratewaslowestforBlackCaribbeanmen(67%),Pakistanimen(66%)and

Bangladeshimen(62%).Forwomenthepicturewasmorebleak,with26%ofPakistaniwomenand23%ofBangladeshiwomeninemployment.

 63 The60/76report,theBusinessCommissiononRaceEqualityintheWorkplace–areportbytheNational

EmploymentPanel,publishedbytheDepartmentforWorkandPensions,October2007,

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/buscommissionreport.pdf64

ImprovingLabourmarketachievementsforethnicminoritiesinBritishSociety–scopingnote,July2001,

PerformanceandInnovationUnit,CabinetOffice65

HowFairisBritain?Equality,HumanRightsandGoodRelationsin2010.TheFirstTriennialReview(Equality

andHumanRightsCommission)http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/key-projects/how-fair-is-britain/full-report-and-evidence-downloads/

 

Page 37: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 37/56

 

37

Pay

Forthoseinwork,alargerproportionofBAMEworkersareconcentratedinlowpaidjobs.A

reportfortheJosephRowntreeFoundationin2007statedthataroundtwo-fifthsofpeople

fromethnicminoritiesliveinincomepoverty,twicetherateforwhitepeople.66

Inparticular“Amongthoseinworkingfamilies[familieswhereatleastoneadultisinpaidwork],around60%ofBangladeshis,40%ofPakistanisand30%ofBlackAfricansarein

incomepoverty.”

Theystate:“Lowpayiscertainlymuchmoreprevalentamongmostminorityethnicgroups.

Forexample,uptohalfofBangladeshiworkers,athirdofPakistanisandaquarterofBlack

Africanswerepaidlessthan£6.50anhourin2006comparedwithafifthoftheotherethnic

groups.”

Paypenalties

Anothermeasureofinequalityisinthedifferenceinpay.ThereportbytheLondonSchoolofEconomicsfortheGovernmentEqualitiesOffice,titled AnAnatomyofEconomic

InequalityintheUK 67

,statedthat“Whenemployed,nearlyallothergroupshavehourlypay

lessthanwhiteBritishmen”…“Womenfromnearlyallethno-religiousbackgroundshave

paybetweenaquarterandathirdlessthanawhiteBritishChristianmanwiththesame

qualifications,ageandoccupation.”

ThisisechoedinthereportPayGapsacrossEqualitiesAreas68fortheEqualityandHuman

RightsCommission,whereitstates:“Allgroupsofethnicminoritywomenandmen,except

IndianandChinesemen,experiencepaygapsrelativetowhiteBritishmen.”

TheLSEreportalsomakesclearthathigherpaydoesnotmeanthattherelevantgroupisfreeofdiscrimination.Itstates:“AlthoughChinesemenareoneofthehighestpaidgroups,

theyarepaid11%lessthanwouldbeexpectedallowingfortheirqualifications.”

Occupationalsegregation

TheBusinessCommissionreportsthatethniccommunitiesareconcentratedinparticular

fieldsofwork.“Theseincludepublicadministration,health,distributionandhospitality.

Outsidethesesectorstheyareunder-representedinbothprivateandpublicsectors.Across

allsectorsmanyethnicminorityemployeesfeelunderemployedgiventheirskillsand

qualifications.Progressinimprovingethnicminorityemploymentratesisthesamefor

publicandprivatesector,althoughinthepublicsectorpromotionprospectsarebetterfor

peoplefromethnicminorities.”

 66

Povertyamongethnicgroups:howandwhydoesitdiffer? ByPeterKenwayandGuyPalmer,NewPolicy

Institute,fortheJosephRowntreeFoundationhttp://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/2042-ethnicity-relative-

poverty.pdf67

 AnAnatomyofEconomicInequalityintheUK ,TheCentreforAnalysisofSocialExclusion,LondonSchoolof

Economics,ReportoftheNationalEqualityPanelfortheGovernmentEqualitiesOffice,2010,

http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/case/_new/publications/NEP.asp68

PayGapsacrossEqualitiesAreas,SimonettaLonghiandLucindaPlatt,InstituteforSocialandEconomicResearch,UniversityofEssex,ResearchReport9,EqualityandHumanRightsCommission

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/pay_gaps_accross_equalities_areas.pdf  

Page 38: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 38/56

 

38

Thishasbeenborneoutintheaudiovisualindustrieswherelevelsofemploymentof

minorityethnicworkersvarydependingonsectorandonoccupation.Whilethereisover-

representationinlow-paidgradessuchascleaners,inotherareasthereisseriousunder-

representation,particularlyinradiobroadcast,post-productionandfilm.Whilethis

averagesoutatafigureequivalenttotheminorityethnicworkingagepopulation(7%),half

oftheindustry’sworkforceisLondon-basedwherethepercentageoftheminorityethnic

workingagepopulationis24%andsothedisproportionatenumbersintheindustryare

evenmoreevident.69

Furtherresearch70

concludedthatminorityethnic-ledproductioncompaniesfeltlabelled,

pigeon-holedor“ghettoised”intoproducingprogrammesandfilmsforminorityethnic

audiencesorinvolvingminorityethnicwritersandactors.BAMEactorshavelefttheUKto

developtheircareersintheUSAastheyhavebelievedthattheywouldfindmore

opportunityandlessdiscrimination.Inthefilmindustry,representationissopoorinfilm

productionthatatcurrentratesofprogressitwouldtakemorethanacenturyforthe

diversityoftheLondonfilmindustryworkforcetomatchthatofLondon’soverallworkforce.

Management

ThereisalongwaytogobeforeBritain’sdiversityisappropriatelyrepresentedin

boardrooms.AreportfortheGovernmentEqualitiesOffice71

statesthatonly27outofthe

FTSE100companieshadanyethnicminoritydirectorsandthereislittleethnicdiversityin

UKcorporationsingeneral.Only4.7%ofFTSE100directorswereBAME.Theyfindthat

whiledisparitiesarealsoapparentonboardsofdirectorsinthepublicsector,theseboards

tendtohavebetterrepresentation.Ofabout18,500publicappointments,asofMarch2008

about5.7%wereBAME.

Overseas-qualifiedethnicminorityseniorstaff

ThesefiguresarehoweveranoverestimateoftheprogressmadebytheUK’sBAME

communityintotopjobs.Afurtherreport72

statesthatareviewoftheFTSE100foundthat

whilethe4.7%figureforBAMEdirectorships,anincrease,“isgoodnewsitisheavily

dependentontherecruitmentofethnicminoritydirectorsfromoverseas.Thereareeight

BAMEwomenintotalonFTSE100Boards...However,allholdnon-executivepositionsand

onlyonewomanisaBritishnational.”

ThisissuecanalsobefoundintheNHS.HealthandSocialCareInformationCentredata

indicatedthatof39,088consultantsinNHSemploymentinEnglandinSeptember2011about30%wereknowntobeethnicminority.Butwhenallthosewhoqualifiedoverseasare

 69

MoveonUp,evaluation,DrIonaJones,ImagineAssociates70

Researchingtheindependentproductionsector:afocusonminorityethnicledcompaniesEmmaPollard,

ElaineSheppard,PennyTamkinandRobertBarkworth,reportproducedforPACTandtheUKFilmCouncil,

http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/pdflibrary/pactukfc.pdf71

IncreasingdiversityonpublicandprivatesectorboardsDrRuthSealy,ElenaDoldorandProfSusan

Vinnicombe,InternationalCentreforWomenLeaders,CranfieldSchoolofManagement,fortheGovernment

Equalitiesoffice72RacetotheTop:theplaceofethnicminoritygroupswithintheUKworkforceRaceforOpportunity,Business

intheCommunity 

Page 39: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 39/56

 

39

takenoutofthesefigures,thenumberofUKqualifiedBAMEconsultantsisunder10%73

.Of

1,055BlackorBlackBritishconsultantsonly197wereUKqualified74

.

Progress?

Thecomparisonofrecentresearchandexperienceswiththoseofadecadeagoorlonger

showsthattheissuesidentifiedthenarethesameasthoseidentifiednow,andthe

statisticalevidenceindicatesthatinsufficientoverallprogresshasbeenmade.

Thereareominoussignsthatnotonlyisprogresscomingtoahalt,buttherecessionis

devastatingsomecommunitiesfarmorethanothers.ThiswasemphasisedinMarch2012

bythepublicationofdatafromtheOfficeofNationalStatisticsrevealingthatoutofthe

economicallyactive16-24agegroup55.9%ofBlackmenand39.1%ofBlackwomenwere

unemployedcomparedwith23.9%ofwhitemenand17.2%ofwhitewomen.

Forhalfofacommunity’seconomicallyactiveyoungpeopletobeunemployedwill

devastatethatcommunityforgenerationsunlessitisaddressedwithsupremeurgency.

Isthisracediscrimination?

Isracediscriminationreallythecauseofthisinequality?TheDepartmentforWorkand

Pensionscommissionedastudy75

“tocollectfactualevidencetotesttheassertionthat

discriminationisasignificantfactoraffectinglabourmarketoutcomesformembersof

ethnicminorities”.Thestudywasafieldexperimentinwhichmatchedpairsofjob

applicationsweresubmittedinresponsetojobadvertisementsinthepublicsectorand

privatesectorinsevenBritishcities.Ethnicidentitywasconveyedusingnameswidely

associatedwiththeethnicgroupsincludedinthesurvey.Thesenameswererandomlyassignedtoeachapplication.Theemployers’responsesweremonitoredwiththekey

positiveoutcomebeingacall-backforinterview.

Thesurveyfoundthat,lookingatthepairsofapplicationsinwhicheitherorbothwere

calledtointerview,39%ofBAMEapplicantsgotthroughcomparedwith68%ofwhite

applicants.Putdifferently,10.7%ofthe987“white”applicationsreceivedapositive

responsecomparedto6.2%ofthe1,974“ethnicminority”applications.Theyconcluded

thatethnicminoritieshadtosend16applicationsforonesuccessfuloutcomecomparedto

nineforwhiteapplicants.

Thedifferencebetweenthepublicandprivatesectorswasevenmoreshocking.Thesurvey

foundthat4%ofpublicsectoremployerswerelikelytohavediscriminatedonthegrounds

ofrace–comparedwith35%ofprivatesectoremployers.

Thereportadded:“Thelevelofracialdiscriminationwasfoundtobehighacrossallethnic

groups.Althoughtherewassomevariationinthelevel,rangingfrom21%for

 73

excluding dental specialties74

excluding dental specialties75

 AtestofracialdiscriminationinrecruitmentpracticeinBritishcities–researchreportno67 MartinWood,

JonHales,SusanPurdon,TanjaSejersenandOliverHayllar,NationalCentreforSocialResearchonbehalfoftheDWPhttp://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2009-2010/rrep607.pdf

 

Page 40: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 40/56

 

40

Pakistani/Bangladeshinamesto32%forIndian,ChineseandBlackCaribbeannames,the

differencesbetweenthegroupswerenotstatisticallysignificant.”

Therewasahighlevelofdiscriminationforapplicationsofbothgenders,thoughsomewhat

higheramongmaleapplicants–32%to26%forwomen.

Thesurveynotedthatwheretheemployer’sownformhadbeenusedtherewasvirtuallyno

netdiscrimination,comparedto38%whereaCVhadbeensent.Theycommentthatthis

mayrelatetoemployerformsoftenbeingdesignedsothatpersonaldetailscouldbe

detachedbeforethesiftingprocess.Thesemeasuresmayalsobeassociatedwith

organisationswithdedicatedHRfunctionsandwell-developedprocedures.

Thesurveyconcludes:“Therandomassignmentofnamestoconveyethnicityinapplications

inthiscorrespondencetestmeanstherearenoplausibleexplanationsforthedifferencein

treatmentfoundbetweenwhiteandethnicminoritynamesotherthanracial

discrimination.”Itcontinued:“Candidatesweredeniedaccesstoarangeofjobsinarange

ofsectorsacrossBritishcitiesasaresultofhavinganameassociatedwithanethnicminoritybackground.”

Typesofdiscrimination

Theauthorsofthereportraisedthepossibilitythatagreatdealofethnicdisadvantagein

theprivatesectorisunintentionalandunrecognisedbyseniormanagement.

TheBusinessCommissionreportconcurswiththis.Itstatesthatdiscriminationtakesoneof

severalforms:

-Straightforwardracialprejudiceatthelevelofindividualmanagers;

-Lessspecifickindsofharassmentorvictimisationthatdriveethnicminoritiestoresignor

preventtheirapplication;-Workplaceculturesthatunintentionallyresultindiscrimination.Inparticularinformal,

wordofmouthrecruitmentpracticesincludinghiring“whoyouknow”ratherthancasting

thenetwider.Itisawell-researchedphenomenonthatpeopleprefertohireothersintheir

ownimage,sointheabsenceofanyformalapplicationprocessdiversityisnotgoingto

progress.

-Stereotypingandpreconceivednotionsaboutethnicminorities.TheCranfieldreportfor

examplenotedthatemployersattributedlackofethnicminoritiesatboardleveltoalackof

skillsorqualificationstobeonboards.Theresearchersfoundnoevidencethatanyskillsor

qualificationdeficitexisted.Stereotypingalsoservestoexacerbatetheconcentrationofthe

BAMEworkforceincertainareasandunderrepresentationelsewhere.

Informalrecruitmentpracticesandstereotypinghavebeenwidelyrecognisedinthe

broadcastingindustryforexample,andthesuccessofmediaandentertainmentunion

BECTU’sindustry-wideMoveonUpdiversityinitiativeforexamplehasbeenattributedtoits

focusonbreakingdownstereotypesandcultivatingpersonalcontactsforminorityethnic

professionalswithindustryexecutives.Innineeventsover10yearsBECTU–inpartnership

primarilywiththeBBCbutalsowithsectorskillscouncilCreativeSkillsetandawiderangeof

privatesectororganisationsincludingITV,Skyandindependentproductioncompanies–has

setupmorethan5,000one-to-onemeetingsbetweenmorethan1,000minorityethnic

professionalsand500industryexecutiveswhohadbeensenttheirCVsinadvance.

Page 41: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 41/56

 

41

Thishasledtomanypeoplegoingontoobtainjobs,programmecommissionsandother

opportunitiesandboostingtheirconfidence.Hundredsofexecutives,someofwhomhad

thoughtthattheBAMEworkforcewasverysmallandoverwhelminglyyoungand

underqualified,discoveredthattheBMEworkforcehasinfactalargecadreofmature,

highlyexperiencedandwellqualifiedprofessionals.

TheBusinessCommissionalsoconcludesthatemployers’responsetothisissuehasbeen

“inadequate”.Theirsurveyof1,000businessesrevealedthat42%couldnotarticulate

reasonsfortheircompanytotakestepstopromoteraceequality;61%didnotrecognisea

connectionbetweendiversityandbusinessperformance;83%didnotbelievetheywould

faceformalinvestigationoftheiremploymentpracticesorthatanemployeewouldever

takethemtoatribunal.

Amongtherationalestheyheardforwhycompanieswerenottakinganyactionwasthat

raceequalityisnotanissuebecausetheydonothaveanyethnicminorityemployees;white

staffresentmeasurestotackleraceinequality;andthatalltheywanttodois“hirethebest”andinpromotingraceequalitytheyarebeingaskedtolowerstandards.

Otherissues

TheTaskForceendorsestheconclusionsoftheLiberalDemocratworkinggroupon

inequalitywhichindicatethatclassisamajorfactordrivinginequality.Classcanbeseento

beunderlyingthedisparityinemploymentandincomeofdifferentethnicgroups:whileall

minorityethnicgroupshavebeenshown(above)tosufferdiscrimination,thedamageis

greater,anddifferent,forthosewhereagreaterproportionareworkingclass.

Forexample,statisticsshowthatBritain’sIndiancommunityhashigherlevelsofeducationaloutcome,employmentandpaythanmostotherethnicminoritygroups.Research

76traces

therootsofthistoBritishimmigrationpolicyinthemid-20th

centuryandthefailureofthe

educationsystemtotrainsufficientnumbersforthenewlyexpandingNHS.Facedwith

shortagesofdoctors,thegovernmentrecruitedprofessionallyqualifiedpersonnelprimarily

fromIndia,whichhadahealthsystemthatmirroredthatofBritainandwhosequalifications

weretransferabletotheNHS.

TheemigrationofBritish-traineddoctors–atonepointestimatedat30-50%ofmedical

graduates–toothercountrieswherepaywashigherthantheNHS,increasedtheinward

migrationofmedicalprofessionalsfromIndiaandtoalesserextentPakistan.By197131%ofalldoctorsworkingintheNHSinEnglandwerebornandqualifiedoverseas.Halfa

centurylater,thelegacyfortheBritish-Indiancommunityistohavealargerproportionin

themiddleclassthanotherminoritycommunities.

 76

ImmigrationandtheNationalHealthService:puttinghistorytotheforefront byStephanieSnowandEmma

Jones,WellcomeResearchAssociatesintheCentrefortheHistoryofScience,Technology&Medicine,UniversityofManchester,http://www.historyandpolicy.org/papers/policy-paper-118.html

 

Page 42: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 42/56

 

42

TheTaskForcehasidentifiedthreeotherfactorsaffectingethnicminorityemployment:

Skillsandtraining

Researchhasshown77thatworkersinthelowestpaidjobshavepooraccesstotraining,soBAMEworkerswhoareconcentratedinthesejobsarelikelytobedisproportionately

affected.Inaddition,earlierTUCresearch78

showedthatemployeesinnon-unionised

workplaceswerefarlesslikelytoeverhavebeenofferedtrainingthanthoseinunionised

areas.36%ofnon-unionBAMEemployeeshaveneverbeenofferedtrainingcomparedwith

 just16%inunionisedworkplaces.

However,furtherresearchintoparticipationinadultlearningindicatesthatoverallethnic

minoritygroupsaremorelikelytoparticipateintaughtlearningthanthewhitepopulation

(asopposedtoself-directedlearning).Blackandmixedorigincommunitieshavehigherrates

ofparticipationinadultlearning(54%comparedwith34%ofeconomicallyinactivewhitepeople)andaremorelikelytobebenefitingfromtaughtlearning,andlearningtowardsa

qualification.ThereisanecdotalandotherevidencetosuggestthatmanyBlackstudents

whofeeltheyhavebeenletdownbytheschoolsystem(seeabove),onreachingadulthood

gobackintolearningasmaturestudentsinordertoachievetheoutcometheyhadbeen

denied79

.

Accesstocapitalforbusiness

TheTaskForceagreeswiththefeedbackmadetothegovernment’sEthnicMinority

AdvisoryGroupin201280

whichobservedthatthereisaperceptionof

discrimination/prejudiceindecisionmaking;manyminorityethnicpotentialapplicantsdo

notbelievetheywillbesuccessfulatsecuringfinance;andpoortake-upofprofessional

businesssupport,linkedwithaperceptionthatthebusinesslackculturalunderstanding.

TheBankofEngland81

acknowledgesthatsomeethnicminoritybusinessesperceivethat

theyaretreatedadversely,and“whetherornotdiscriminationexists,thestepsthatneedto

betakenbybanksandotherfinanceproviderstocounteracteitheractualorperceived

discriminationarethesameinbothcases”.

TheTaskForceendorsesthecommitmentinthegovernment’sequalitystrategytoliftthe

barriersfacedbyethnicminoritybusinessesinaccessingfinanceandtheworkofLiberal

DemocratministerDonFosterintakingthisforwardandurgesthatthispolicyisgivenfull

support.

 77

TheEHRCTriennialReview:DevelopingtheEmploymentEvidenceBaseDeborahSmeaton,MariaHudson,

DragosRaduandKimVowden,PolicyStudiesInstitute78

WorkplaceTraining:Araceforopportunity ,TUC79

EqualityandHumanRightsCommissionTriennialReview:Education(LifelongLearning),Participationin

 AdultLearningPeterJones,SchoolofEducation,UniversityofSouthampton80

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/emag-minutes-190412.pdf81TheFinancingofEthnicMinorityFirmsintheUnitedKingdom:aspecialreport 

http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/Documents/financeforsmallfirms/ethnic.pdf  

Page 43: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 43/56

 

43

Contrastbetweenpublicandprivatesectorprogress

TheTaskForcenotesthatthelevelofdiscriminationfacedbyBAMEworkersissubstantially

greaterforthoseintheprivatesectorthanitisinthepublicsector.TheTaskForcebelieves

thisisduetothegreaterlegalrequirementsplacedonthepublicsectornotonlytoavoid

discriminationbuttoactivelytakestepstoincreasediversityandinclusion.Theserequirements,setoutinthe“publicsectorduty”enshrinedintheEqualityAct,areabsentin

theprivatesector.TheresultcouldbeseenfromtheresponsestotheBusinessCommission

surveyinwhichalmosthalfwereunabletosaywhytheyshouldpromoteraceequalityand

nearlyallassumedthattheywouldneverfacelegalchallengeovertheiremployment

practices.

Anadditionalreasonforthegreaterequalityinthepublicsectoristhatthegreaterlevelof

tradeunionrecognitioninthesectorhasallowedunionstocampaignsuccessfullyforthe

introductionoffaireremploymentpoliciesandstrongeranti-discriminationmeasures.

CurrentConservativeproposals

TheConservatives’movestoweakenkeypartsoftheEqualityAct2010arisefromthebelief

thataspectsoftheActare“unnecessaryordisproportionateburdensonbusiness”.Allthe

evidenceleadstheTaskForcetoconcludethatthisiscompletelythewrongapproach.

Theproposals,containedwithintheEnterpriseandRegulatoryReformBill,includerepealing

theprotectionfromthirdpartyharassment.Thisprotectionmakestheemployerliablefor

repeatedracist,sexistorotherprejudice-basedharassmentofstaffbythirdparties,where

theemployerhasfailedtotakereasonablestepstoprotectthem.TheTaskForceiswell

awareoftheneedforethnicminorityworkersparticularlyinpublic-facingrolestohavethisprotection.Employerslookingaftertheirstaffproperlyshouldhavenoreasontooppose

thisprotection.

Theproposalsseektoabolishthenewpowerthatenablesemploymenttribunalsto

recommendthatanemployerfoundguiltyofunlawfuldiscriminationshouldtakespecific

stepstopreventotherssufferingsimilarly.Surelyagovernmentthatwishestoprevent

unlawfuldiscriminationshouldbeactivelysupportingthismeasureratherthanabolishingit.

Theyalsoseektorepealthestatutorydiscriminationquestionnaireprocedurewhich

enablesanindividualwhobelievestheyhavebeendiscriminatedagainsttoseekinformationfromtheiremployer.Thislegislationhasbeeninplacesincebeforethelast

Conservativegovernmenttookofficein1979andhasstoodthetestoftime.The

governmentsaysthatitwishestoencourageearlysettlementinordertoavoidtheneedfor

tribunals;theuseofthequestionnairepreventsill-foundedlitigationandcanpromoteearly

settlement.83%ofthoserespondingtothegovernment’sconsultationopposedrepeal

includingthePresidentandRegionalEmploymentJudgesoftheEmploymentTribunals,

statingthatthiswouldbearetrogradestep.

TheTaskForcenotesthattheproposalscameinthewakeoftheRedTapeChallengepublic

consultationwhichsoughttoremoveburdensomebureaucracy.Italsonotes,however,that

Page 44: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 44/56

 

44

the7,000responsestotheconsultationwereoverwhelminglysupportiveoftheEquality

Act.Theproposalsarethereforenotreflectiveoftheconsultationresponses.

Theplans,coupledwiththenewchargesof£250toinitiateadiscriminationclaim,£950for

ahearingandfurtherfeesastheclaimprogresses,wouldhavetheeffectofreversing

progresstowardsdiversityandintegrationintheworkplaceandindeedinsocietyatlarge

andmakingitmoredifficultforordinarypeopletoobtainredress.

OfgreatconcerntotheTaskForcewastheplantoreviewthePublicSectorEqualityDuty.It

shouldberememberedthattheestablishmentofthePublicSectorEqualityDutywasthe

directresultoftheMacphersonInquiryintotheMetropolitanPoliceService’sfailureto

properlyinvestigateandprosecutetheracistmurderofStephenLawrence.Thereport

identifiedthatinstitutionalracismaffectedtheMPS,anditwasdefinedas“Thecollective

failureofanorganisationtoprovideanappropriateandprofessionalservicetopeople

becauseoftheircolour,cultureorethnicorigin.”

In2002apositivedutywasplacedonpublicauthoritiesrequiringthemtohave“due

regard”totheneedtopreventunlawfulracediscrimination,topromoteracialequalityand

tofostergoodrelationsinallthattheydo.Itmeantthatorganizationshadtotakea

proactiveandcollectiveapproachratherthanmerelyreactingtoindividualcomplaintsof

discriminationwhentheyoccurredandcouldbeproved.

ThePublicSectorEqualityDuty,asshownabove,hasbeenparticularlyeffectiveinensuring

thatthepublicsectordoesnotmerelytrytoavoiddiscriminationbuttakesactivestepsto

fosterdiversity.TheDWP2009investigationhasdemonstratedthatithasindeedchanged

attitudes.

LiberalDemocratsareandshouldremaincommittedtoupholdingthePublicSectorEquality

Duty.

Recommendation24

TheTaskForceendorsesNickClegg’sstatement  that“OurequalitieslegislationisconsideredthebestinEuropeandhastransformeddiscriminationintheworkplace.TheEqualityActisa

cornerstoneoftheUK’scultureoffairness.Itisn’tthereforemployerstopickandchoose

 from.Anditisnotgoingaway.”

WerecommendthatLiberalDemocratsopposeallattemptstoweakentheEqualityAct,and

 furthertodemandfullimplementationoftheAct,includingtheadoptionofallStatutory

CodesofPractice,asenvisagedwhentheLiberalDemocratsinParliamentvotedforits

 passageintolaw.TheseincludeStatutoryCodesofPracticeonthePublicSectorEquality

DutyandonSchoolsandtheFurtherandHigherEducationsector,whicharecurrentlyset

outmerelyastechnicalguidance.

Recommendation25

TheTaskForceendorsesNickClegg’sacknowledgementthattherehasbeeninsufficient progressintheprivatesector.

Page 45: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 45/56

 

45

Further,theTaskForcenotestherecommendationoftheBusinessCommissionin2009

whichstatedthatthegovernmentshouldassessin2012whethertheprivatesectorhas

madeenoughprogressinpromotingraceequalitytosupportthegoalofreducingtheethnic

minoritygapto12percentagepointsby2015,reportsitsfindingspublicly,andifitfinds

insufficientprogresshasbeenmade,bringsinlegislationthatobligesprivatesector

employerstopromoteworkplaceraceequality.”

TheTaskForcerecommendsthatthegovernment,throughitspositionastheUK’smajor

 purchaser,usesitsleverageover,andrelationshipswith,privatesectorcompaniesto

motivatetheprivatesectortopromoteraceequality.

Thiscanbeachievedthroughcontractconditionstoensuresuppliersimprovetheirpractices,

andwerecommendthatgovernmentestablishapublicsector-wideprocurementpolicyto

usemorerobustpre-qualificationquestionsandcontractconditionstopromoterace

equalityintheworkplace.Itshoulddothisinawaythatdoesnotimposeundueburdensonsmallcompanies.

TheTaskForcebelievesthatourpartythroughitsdemocraticframeworkshouldbegiven

theopportunitytodebatewhethertheEqualityDutycurrentlyapplicabletothepublic

sectorshouldbeextendedtotheprivatesectorasadutytopromoteworkplaceequality,as

envisagedbytheBusinessCommission.

TheTaskForceendorsesthecommitmentintheLiberalDemocrat2010Manifestorequiring

name-blindjobapplicationstoreducediscriminationinemployment,initiallyforeverycompanywithover100employees.

Transparency

TheTaskForceapplaudsandendorsesthecommitmentstotransparencyinthe

GovernmentEqualityPolicy:“Shiningalightoninequalitiesandgivingindividualsandlocal

communitiesthetoolsandinformationtheyneedtochallengeorganisationsthatarenot

offeringfairopportunities,andpublicservicesthatarenotdeliveringeffectivelyforallthe

peopletheyserve.”

TheTaskForceisawareofampleevidencetoshowthatequalitymonitoring,particularlyinrelationtoprivatesectorrecipientsofpublicfundingandotherbenefits,ispatchy,andeven

whereitisrequiredtherehasbeenatendencytorefusepublicaccesstoit.TheTaskForce

believesthatthepublichastherighttoknowhowwellthoseinreceiptofpublicmoneyand

otherbenefitsarereflectingthediversityofoursociety.

Recommendation26

TheTaskForcerecommendsthatallprivatesectorcompaniesandthirdsectororganisations

thatareinreceiptofmoney,licencesorotherbenefitsawardedonbehalfofthepublic–

whetherfunding,broadcastinglicencesorformerpublicsectorcontracts–beobligedto

carryoutequalitymonitoring,sendthistothefundingbody,regulatororcommissioner

Page 46: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 46/56

 

46

whichinturnshallberequiredtopublishthisdataforeachnamedcompanyorlicenceonan

annualbasis.

Increaseeffectivenessatgovernmentlevel

TheTaskForceendorsestheCoalition’scommitment“Embeddingequality:leadingby

exampleandembeddingequalityineverythingwedoingovernmentasanintegralpartof

ourpoliciesandprogrammes”.

Recommendation27

TheTaskForcerecommendstheimplementationandembeddingofthispolicyintothequasi-

non-governmentalorganizations,regulatorsandotherpublicbodies.Inparticularthey

shouldensurethattheseorganizationsunderstandandacceptthatequalityispartoftheir

remitandthatenforcement,onbehalfofthepublic,ofcontractcomplianceandreal

accountabilitythroughtransparencyonequalityoffundingrecipients,licenceesand

contractorsisakeypartoftheirroleonwhichtheywillbemeasured.

Recommendation28

TheTaskForceendorsestheCoalition’sworkinsettinguptheMinisterialGroupon

Equalities.Itrecommendsthatthegroupassignresponsibilityforeachequalitystrandto

ensurethatnostrandisleftbehindandthateachstrandhasitsownplanofaction.

Recommendation29

TheTaskForcerecommendsadoptionofthelongtermpolicyambitionoferadicatingthe

ethnicminorityemploymentgapwithin25yearsandtohavebeguntoseeaclosingofthis

gapbythenextelection.

EqualityandHumanRightsCommission

TheTaskForceisconcernedaboutproposalscurrentlymakingtheirwaythroughParliament

whichmakechangestotheEqualityActandtheEHRC.TheywouldremovetheEHRC’s

specificdutytofostergoodrelationsinsociety;enditsgrantsprogrammewithoutwhich

thousandsofvictimsofdiscriminationwillfinditmoredifficulttoobtainlegaladvice.Its

helpline,whichhasdealtwithover40,000callsayear,hasbeenprivatised.Since2009the

EHRChasprovided£14-millioningrantfundingto285frontlineorganisationsincludingthe

Citizens’AdviceBureaux,LawCentres,RaceEqualityCouncilsandtheDisabilityLawService.

ThegovernmentisalsocuttingthebudgetoftheEHRCtosuchavastdegreethatitsbudget

islikelytobelowerthanthatoftheformerCommissionforRacialEquality–thoughthe

EHRCcoverstheentireequalityremitplushumanrights.RegionalofficesofEHRCarebeing

closedinresponsetobudgetcutswhichwillreducethequalityofservicetothepublic

outsideLondon.

Theswingeingcutstoitsbudget,coupledwiththeEHRC’saccountabilitytotheGovernment

EqualitiesOfficeratherthanParliament,hasseriousimplicationsfortheindependenceof

thisbodywhichhasaroleofstandinguptogovernment.TheEHRCisrecognisedbythe

UnitedNationsasanationalhumanrightsinstitutionwiththehighest“A”status,butthisis

Page 47: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 47/56

 

47

contingentupontheEHRCretainingitsindependenceandnotbeingsubjecttofinancial

controlthatmightcompromiseitsindependence.Indeed,thecorrespondencerevealedin

OctoberbetweentheHomeSecretaryandtheUnitedNationsindicatesthatthe

ConservativeHomeSecretary’sproposalscouldresultintheEHRClosingitstopratingand

thereforetheUKcouldnolongerengagefullyintheUNHumanRightsCouncil.TheTask

Forcebelievesthatthisnewevidenceincreasesthecaseforthecurrentproposalstobe

dropped.

Recommendation30

TheTaskForcerecommendsmaintainingthewiderroleoftheEHRCtoenablethe

organisationtoplayaleadingroleinchangingattitudes,andweendorsetheBusiness

CommissionrecommendationthattheEHRCconducttwosector-basedreviewseachyear,to

resultinagreedactionplansforimprovingperformanceinethnicminorityrecruitment,

retentionandpromotion.Wherecompaniesorsectorswhosignuptoactionplansdonot

takenecessarysteps,thenasalastresorttheEHRCshoulduseitspowerstoconductformal

investigations.

TheTaskForcefurtherrecommendsreinstatingfundingtotheEHRCto2010levelsandthat

meaningfulresourcesareallocatedtoeachequalitystrandwithintheEHRCtoensurethat

attentionisfocussedonallstrands.

TheTaskForcefurtherrecommendsthatactionistakentoensurethattheEHRC’s

independencefromgovernmentisupheldandnotundermined.

EffectivenessoftheEHRCisevenmoreimportantifthedutytopromoteequalityisnot

extendedtotheprivatesector.

Page 48: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 48/56

 

48

ConclusionTheTaskForceconcludesthatwhilesubstantialprogresshasbeenmadetowardsclosing

theattainmentgapintheeducationsystem,seriousproblemsremain.Theincorporationof

theEthnicMinorityAchievementGrantfundingintotheDedicatedSchoolsGrant,coupled

withdowngradingequalityandcommunitycohesionintheOfstedschoolinspectioncritera,

createsadangerofthegapwideningagain.Andwhileraceequalitylegislationbrought

aboutsomeprogresswithinthepublicsector,theLabourgovernmentfailedtoacttoensure

thatequivalentprogresswasmadeintheprivatesector.

Theadoptionofthe“holisticapproach”toequalitycombinedwithamoveawayfrom

addressingtheparticularsetsofissuesfacedbyeachequalitystrandhasbeenatacostto

theethnicminoritypopulation,whichcollectivelyhasbeenandcontinuestobethetarget

ofsustaineddiscriminationonthegroundsoftheirrace.

Thegovernment’sequalitystrategyextendsLabour’spolicy,evenechoingformer

ConservativePrimeMinisterMargaretThatcher’sviewthat“thereisnosuchthingas

society”initsdescriptionofthestrategyas“onethatmovesawayfromtreatingpeopleas

groupsor‘equalitystrands’andinsteadrecognisesthatweareanationof62-million

individuals.”82

Thismovehasallowedgovernmentstofocusonpreferredareasofequality.Forexample

therehasbeenaverywelcomelongrunningcampaignbyboththeLabourandtheCoalition

governmentstoachievemorewomeninboardrooms.ButtheTaskForcehasnotedthattherehasbeennosimilarcallformoreminorityethnicdirectors.

Thegovernment’sEqualityStrategyaimstoensurethatallEngland’sverydiverse

communities–demographic,economic,social,religiousandethniccanflourish.However,

theTaskForceisextremelyconcernedthat‘integration’isnotallowedtobecomeconflated

withtheconceptof‘assimilation’whichinsistsuponaconformitythatnegatesdiversity

insteadofcelebratingit.LiberalDemocratsdonotbelievethat“multiculturalismisdead”as

someinthemediaandotherpoliticalpartieswouldhaveusbelieve.Whilstitisimportantto

unitearoundthemanythingswehaveincommon,itremainsimportanttocelebrateour

differentculturesandembracediversitynotsmotherit.

Thelossoffocusonrace,accordingtotheRunnymedeTrust,hasevenledmanytobelieve

thatthatthe“raceissue”hasbeenresolved.TheTaskForcebelieves,onthecontrary,that

thereisnowanevengreaterneedforrealaction.

AnewLiberalDemocratapproach

TheTaskForcebelievesthattheinformationpresentedinthisreportshowsnotonlythe

weaknessescontainedintheLabourandConservativeapproaches,butalsothatthereare

 82

TheEqualityStrategy–BuildingaFairerBritainHMGovernment2010

Page 49: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 49/56

 

49

overwhelminggroundsforanewLiberalDemocratapproachwhichbuildsonitssuccessful

socialmobilityagenda.

TheLiberalDemocratsexisttobuildandsafeguardafair,freeandopensocietyinwhichwe

seektobalancethefundamentalvaluesofliberty,equalityandcommunity,andinwhich

no-oneshallbeenslavedbypoverty,ignoranceandconformity.Thiscreed,setoutinthe

preambletotheparty’sconstitution,goesontosay:“Wechampionthefreedom,dignity

andwell-beingofindividuals,weacknowledgeandrespecttheirright…todeveloptheir

talentstothefull.Weaimtodispersepower,tofosterdiversityandtonurturecreativity.

Webelievethattheroleofthestateistoenableallcitizenstoattaintheseideals”.

Infurtheranceofthis,theTaskForce’s30recommendationsaredesignedtoensurethat

realactionistaken,thatinlinewiththeCoalitionAgreementpublicbodiesandprivateand

thirdsectororganisationsinreceiptofmoneyorotherbenefitsawardedonbehalfofthe

publicareheldtoaccountthroughenhancedtransparency;thatquangos,regulators,

fundingbodiesandotherarms’lengthpublicorganisationsaremadetounderstandthatraceequalityandcontractcompliancearewithintheirremituponwhichtheywillbe

measured.

Inthesestraitenedtimesitiscrucialthatwithineducationthefundingearmarked

specificallytoaddressraceequalityandtheneedsoftheunderprivilegedareusedforthese

purposes,ensuringthatthedecisionsonhowtousetheseresourcesremainlocal,within

thepowerofschools.Itisalsoclearthaturgentactionisnecessarytoaddress,asquicklyas

possible,thepressingproblemswithineducationsuchastheunder-representationofBAME

teachersincludingatseniorlevel;andwhatisemerginginsomeschoolsasover-relianceon

exclusionasadisciplinarytoolandthediscriminatoryuseofitagainstBlackCaribbeanpupils.

TheTaskForce’srecommendations,particularlywithregardtoemployment,builduponthe

approachofourpartyleaderNickCleggwhointheScarmanLecture2011referredto

“anotherfrontinthewaronraceinequalitythatistoooftenneglected:economic

opportunity.”

Weapplaudhisrecognitionthat“Wemustnotconfusediversityandtolerancewithareal

levelplayingfieldwhereopportunitiesareopentoall.Theyarenotthesamething.Thereal

lessonfromthelast30yearsisthis:Itisnotenoughforasocietytorejectbigotry.Becauserealequalityisnotjusttheabsenceofprejudice.Itistheexistenceoffairnessand

opportunitytoo.

“Greaterfairnessinthepublicsectorisanimportantachievement.Butitisnotenough.Real

equalitymeansequalityofopportunityacrossthewholeoftheeconomy,thewholeof

society.Labourtriedtocompensateforinequalityinthesectionofsocietytheycould

controlratherthantryingtoeliminateitacrosstheboard.”

Finally,theTaskForceacknowledgestheestimatebytheNationalAuditOfficethatthe

overallcosttotheeconomyfromfailuretofullyusethetalentsofpeoplefromethnicminoritiescouldbearound£8.6-billionannually.

Page 50: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 50/56

 

50

TheTaskForceapplaudsthestatementbyNickCleggthat“Ifwetappedintothefull

potentialofourBlackandethnicminoritycommunities,justimaginethebenefitsand

prosperitythatwouldbringforsocietyasawhole.Ifallworkplacesandprofessionswere

opentoBlackandAsianideasandskills.IfallBlackentrepreneursandbusinessescould

borrow,competeandgrowonequalterms.Ourwholeeconomywouldgrowfaster.

Jobswouldbecreatedineverycommunity.

“SonowisthemomenttounleashBlacktalent,ethnicminoritytalent,forthegoodofusall.

Wemustaimfornothinglessthanrealequalityofopportunityacrossthewholeofour

society,whereracedoesnotdeterminedestiny,whereyoudetermineyourdestiny.You

havethepowerandfreedomtoforgeyourownpathinstead.”

 

……………………………………………………….

Page 51: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 51/56

 

51

Appendix

Recommendationscontainedwithinthereportareasfollows:

Recommendation1Notingthatthefirstfiveyearsofachild'slifeshapeshisorherfuture,itisessentialtoensure

adequateprovisionofaffordableandaccessiblechildcareincludingthrough:

FurthertrainingforthosewishingtoentertheEarlyYearsWorkforce,thistrainingshould

includeaclearfocusonculturaldiversityandraceequalityandontheneedtoensurethat

themoredisadvantagedcommunitieshaveequalaccess.

Supportingchangestothefreechildcareentitlementtocreateamoreflexibleofferthatin

turncouldimprovethechancesofBAMEparentsofobtainingemployment.

offerthatinturncouldimprovethechancesofBAMEparentsofobtainingemployment

Recommendation2:TheTaskForcerecommendsthatOfstedcontinuetomonitorexpenditureofthePupil

Premiumtoensurethatitisusedforthepurposesforwhichitwasintendedandthatall

schoolsareproperlyandtransparentlyaccountableforitsuse.

TheTaskForcefurtherrecommendsthatinordertopreventareverseoftheprogressmade

inrecentyearstowardsclosingtheethnicminorityachievementgap,theEthnicMinority

 AchievementGrantismaintained,thatschoolsareheldtransparentlyaccountableforits

expenditureandthattheOfstedinspectionframeworkberevisedtoreinstatethe

requirementtojudgeschoolsontheirpromotionofequalityofopportunityandcommunity

cohesion.

TheTaskForcebelievesthatlocalcoordinationofactionisessentialandinthebestinterests

ofchildreninlocalcommunitieswithregardtotheuseoftheEthnicMinorityAchievement

Grant.Itthereforerecommendsthatifthisinter-schoolcoordinationislackingthenlocal

authoritiesutilisetheirpowersundertheLocalChildrenandYoungPeople'splantoensure

thatpropercoordinationtakesplace.

 

Recommendation3

Inlinewiththepolicyoutlinedin“BlackManifesto2010”,theschoolcurriculumshould

 properlyreflecttheethnicdiversityofthecountry.Inordertopromoteunderstanding,an

impartialteachingofthehistoryofculturaldiversityintheUKaswellasBritain’shistorical

globalroleshouldbetaught.

Recommendation4

Thatteachertrainingshouldbeimprovedinordertoequipteacherstodealwithissuesof

raceandhelpthemrecognisetheirownpotentialunconsciousbiases.

 

Recommendation5

NotingthatexclusionofpupilsfromschoolisusedfarmorewidelyinEnglandthanitisin

mainlandEurope,theTaskForcerecommendsthattheDepartmentforEducationimplement

theChildren’sCommissioner’sreportintothepreventionofandpositivealternativesto

exclusion.Itshouldalsodevelopguidanceonthis.

Page 52: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 52/56

 

52

TheTaskForcefurtherrecommendsthattheEducationActshouldbeamendedtoreinstate

therightofappealspanels,whentheyfindthataschoolhasunjustlyorillegallyexcludeda

child,tohavethepowertoorderthechild’sreturntotheschoolfromwhichtheywere

excluded.

TheTaskForcealsorecommendstheintroductionofaSchoolsOmbudsmantodealwith

issuesofdisciplineandtoenforceaproportionalresponsebyschoolswhendealingwithall

 pupilsincludingthosefromBAMEbackgrounds.Thiscouldbeaccompaniedbymore

advocatesforchildreningeneral.Expelledstudentsshouldalsobeaffordedaccesstoa

trainedadvocatetoensurethattheyareproperlyrepresented.

Recommendation6

Schoolsshouldmaintainlinkswithex-pupilsandinvitesuccessfulex-pupilsfromacrossall

ethnicitiestovisitandtalktostudents.

Recommendation7TheDepartmentforEducationshouldestablishacentraldatabaseofthementoring

 programmesoperatingnationallyandcreatetheconditionsforcommunicationsbetween

theprogrammestoshareexamplesofbestpractice.Bestpracticeformentoring

 programmesofthisnatureshouldstresstheimportanceofprovidingrace-and-gender

matchedrolemodelsforBAMEchildrenintheeducationsystem.

Recommendation8

Thegovernmentshouldtalktopupilsandstudentsabouttheireducationexperience,they

shouldusetheseconversationstoproducestandardlanguageregardingwhatpupilscan

expectandareentitledtowithregardtotheireducationalexperience.This“LearnersCharter”willbethebasisbywhichallpupilscanexpecttobetreatedandwillhavedirect

 feedinfromthoselearnersconsulted.Thisdocumentshouldbeupdatedeverycoupleof

years. 

Recommendation9

TheGovernmenttosetasideacertainamountofresearchfunding,fromthegeneral

educationresearchbudget,forresearchspecificallyofraceissues.

Recommendation10

Monitoringbeemployedonanationalscaletotrackthesuccessofpoliciesdesignedtobringaboutracialequality.Monitoringenablesustoidentifyinequalitiesineducationalpractice

andtotargetsupportappropriately.

Recommendation11

WeshouldcelebrateeveryaspectofBritishcultureandnotjustthediverseaspects.Being

BritishandcelebratingthatmeanscelebratingtraditionalBritishcultureonanequallevelas

diverseBritishcultureandBAMEculturewithintheUK,creatinganequalplatformandan

areainwhichallofBritishculturecanengageandcommunicate.

 

Page 53: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 53/56

 

53

Recommendation12

Launchanewcreativenationalcampaigntoaddressliteracyandgenerateaspirational

capitalamongstthesecommunities,ledbythesecommunitieswithgovernment,LEAand

schoolsupport,inordertoincreasetheparticipationofGypsy,RomaandTraveller(GRT)

childreninsecondaryeducationastheyfeelparticularlydisenfranchisedfromtheeducation

system.

Recommendation13

Itisvital,whenteachingchildrenabouttoleranceandracialdiversity,thatGypsy,Romaand

IrishTravellersareincluded.Anyteachertrainingaimedtoimproveunderstandingof

culturaldiversitymustalsogiveaholisticviewoftheissuessurroundingGRTchildren.The

DepartmentforEducationshouldcommissionastudytoseewhatoutreachprogrammes,for

examplehomevisits,havebeenshowntobethemosteffectiveinterventions.

 

Recommendation14

RequiretheEqualityandHumanRightsCommissiontoensurethatinstitutionsoffurtherandhighereducationareenforcingcompliancewithraceequalitylegislationinfurtherand

highereducation.

Recommendation15

Requirealluniversitiestobefullytransparentaboutalltheselectioncriteriausedtoevaluate

studentapplicationsforplaces,includingforexamplewhichA-levelsubjectsarelikelyto

countfororagainstacandidate.

Recommendation16

Collegesanduniversitiesshouldadoptazero-tolerancepolicyregardingracistbehaviour,incorporateraceawarenessmoreeffectivelyintostafftraining,andincreasefocusonsocial

inclusionandthestudentexperiencebothwithinandoutsidetheclassroom.

Recommendation17

TheRussellGroupuniversitiesshouldimprovetheiroutreachtoBAMEstudentsinorderto

improvetheirunder-representationintheseinstitutions. 

Recommendation18

Thegovernmentshouldundertakemoreethnicmonitoringofapprenticeships,particularlyin

relationtoapplicationsuccessrates.Thegovernmentshouldprovideanupdateonfindingsandnextstepsfollowingthe

completionofitsdiversitypilots,andshouldactinresponsetoembedthelearningfromthe

 pilotstoapprenticeshipsnationally.

Thegovernment’sapprenticeshipsreviewshouldincludeafocusonincreasingthenumbers

ofunder-representedgroupsonapprenticeshipsschemes.

 

Recommendation19

Createawellstructuredandfinancednationalmentorshipand/orshadowingscheme.

Page 54: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 54/56

 

54

Recommendation20

Thatequalitymonitoringbeundertakenatasystematiclevelatschool,localauthorityand

nationallevels.ParticularmonitoringshouldbecarriedoutofBAMEteachers’progresson

theleadershipscale.

Recommendation21

Futureearlyyearworkerandteachertrainingprogrammesshouldensurethatthereis

 propertrainingonhowtodealwithstudentsfromdifferentethnicbackgroundsandare

comfortablewithissuessuchasculturalidentityandequalopportunities.Theabilityto

displayanunderstandingoftheissuessurroundingculturaldiversityandraceequality

shouldbeessentialinordertopassteachertraining.Ensurethatthecontinuedprofessional

developmentofteachersisgearedtowardscreatingabetterunderstandingofissues

associatedwithpupils/studentsfromdifferentethnicbackgroundsandfurtherissueslike

culturalidentityandequalopportunities.

Recommendation22

BasedonevidencesubmittedbytheRunnymedeTrust,theTaskForcerecommendsthatthe

TeachingAgencyshouldconductawidespreadauditoftheneedsofallteachertraining

institutionsintheareaofraceequality.Theauditshouldincludetheassessingoftheneeds

ofthoseinvolvedinteachertraining,includingtrainers,lecturersandtrainers.

TheTeachingAgencyaswellasOfstedwillberesponsibleforoversightoftheraceequality

teachertraining.BothbodieswillappearbeforetheEducationSelectCommitteetodiscuss

thesuccessofthetrainingprogrammeandtoidentifyareasforimprovement.

InordertoencouragemoreBAMEstudentstoconsideracareerinteaching,aprogramme

shouldbedevelopedinwhichsuccessfulBAMEeducationalprofessionalsareencouragedtovisitneighbouringschoolstotellpupilswhatitistheyloveaboutteaching,howtheygotinto

itandthelevelsofsuccesstheyhaveachieved.

Recommendation23

TheTeachingAgencyshouldreintroducetargetstorecruitethnicminorityteachers

(previouslyorganisedbytheTrainingandDevelopmentAgencyforSchools)

Recommendation24

TheTaskForceendorsesNickClegg’sstatement  that“OurequalitieslegislationisconsideredthebestinEuropeandhastransformeddiscriminationintheworkplace.TheEqualityActisacornerstoneoftheUK’scultureoffairness.Itisn’tthereforemployerstopickandchoose

 from.Anditisnotgoingaway.”

WerecommendthatLiberalDemocratsopposeallattemptstoweakentheEqualityAct,and

 furthertodemandfullimplementationoftheAct,includingtheadoptionofallStatutory

CodesofPractice,asenvisagedwhentheLiberalDemocratsinParliamentvotedforits

 passageintolaw.TheseincludeStatutoryCodesofPracticeonthePublicSectorEquality

DutyandonSchoolsandtheFurtherandHigherEducationsector,whicharecurrentlyset

outmerelyastechnicalguidance.

Page 55: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 55/56

 

55

Recommendation25

TheTaskForceendorsesNickClegg’sacknowledgementthattherehasbeeninsufficient

 progressintheprivatesector.

Further,theTaskForcenotestherecommendationoftheBusinessCommissionin2009

whichstatedthatthegovernmentshouldassessin2012whethertheprivatesectorhas

madeenoughprogressinpromotingraceequalitytosupportthegoalofreducingtheethnic

minoritygapto12percentagepointsby2015,reportsitsfindingspublicly,andifitfinds

insufficientprogresshasbeenmade,bringsinlegislationthatobligesprivatesector

employerstopromoteworkplaceraceequality.”

TheTaskForcerecommendsthatthegovernment,throughitspositionastheUK’smajor

 purchaser,usesitsleverageover,andrelationshipswith,privatesectorcompaniesto

motivatetheprivatesectortopromoteraceequality.

Thiscanbeachievedthroughcontractconditionstoensuresuppliersimprovetheirpractices,andwerecommendthatgovernmentestablishapublicsector-wideprocurementpolicyto

usemorerobustpre-qualificationquestionsandcontractconditionstopromoterace

equalityintheworkplace.Itshoulddothisinawaythatdoesnotimposeundueburdenson

smallcompanies. Recommendation26

TheTaskForcerecommendsthatallprivatesectorcompaniesandthirdsectororganisations

thatareinreceiptofmoney,licencesorotherbenefitsawardedonbehalfofthepublic–

whetherfunding,broadcastinglicencesorformerpublicsectorcontracts–beobligedto

carryoutequalitymonitoring,sendthistothefundingbody,regulatororcommissionerwhichinturnshallberequiredtopublishthisdataforeachnamedcompanyorlicenceonan

annualbasis.

Recommendation27

TheTaskForcerecommendstheimplementationandembeddingofthispolicyintothequasi-

non-governmentalorganizations,regulatorsandotherpublicbodies.Inparticularthey

shouldensurethattheseorganizationsunderstandandacceptthatequalityispartoftheir

remitandthatenforcement,onbehalfofthepublic,ofcontractcomplianceandreal

accountabilitythroughtransparencyonequalityoffundingrecipients,licenceesand

contractorsisakeypartoftheirroleonwhichtheywillbemeasured.

Recommendation28

TheTaskForceendorsestheCoalition’sworkinsettinguptheMinisterialGroupon

Equalities.Itrecommendsthatthegroupassignresponsibilityforeachequalitystrandto

ensurethatnostrandisleftbehindandthateachstrandhasitsownplanofaction.

Recommendation29

TheTaskForcerecommendsadoptionofthelongtermpolicyambitionoferadicatingthe

ethnicminorityemploymentgapwithin25yearsandtohavebeguntoseeaclosingofthis

gapbythenextelection.

Page 56: Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

7/16/2019 Lib Dem Race Equality Task Force Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lib-dem-race-equality-task-force-report 56/56

 

Recommendation30

TheTaskForcerecommendsmaintainingthewiderroleoftheEHRCtoenablethe

organisationtoplayaleadingroleinchangingattitudes,andweendorsetheBusiness

CommissionrecommendationthattheEHRCconducttwosector-basedreviewseachyear,to

resultinagreedactionplansforimprovingperformanceinethnicminorityrecruitment,

retentionandpromotion.Wherecompaniesorsectorswhosignuptoactionplansdonot

takenecessarysteps,thenasalastresorttheEHRCshoulduseitspowerstoconductformal

investigations.

TheTaskForcefurtherrecommendsreinstatingfundingtotheEHRCto2010levelsandthat

meaningfulresourcesareallocatedtoeachequalitystrandwithintheEHRCtoensurethat

attentionisfocussedonallstrands.

TheTaskForcefurtherrecommendsthatactionistakentoensurethattheEHRC’s

independencefromgovernmentisupheldandnotundermined.


Scotland and Race Equality: Directions in Policy and …eprint.ncl.ac.uk/file_store/production/225155/E0589634...Scottish Equality 3 Scottish approaches to Race Equality have come

Scotland and Race Equality: Directions in Policy and …eprint.ncl.ac.uk/file_store/production/225155/E0589634...Scottish Equality 3 Scottish approaches to Race Equality have come

Strength ening Race Equality - Cardiff University

Strength ening Race Equality - Cardiff University

Performance and Race Equality

Performance and Race Equality

Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) & Workforce ... · Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) The Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) was also commissioned by

Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) & Workforce ... · Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) The Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) was also commissioned by

Equality of Educational Opportunity: Race and Finance in ...

Equality of Educational Opportunity: Race and Finance in ...

Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) Homerton Assessment.

Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) Homerton Assessment.

Race, Equality and the Rule of Law_ Critical Race Theory's Attack

Race, Equality and the Rule of Law_ Critical Race Theory's Attack

Delivering Race Equality: DIVERSE APPROACHES TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

Delivering Race Equality: DIVERSE APPROACHES TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

Race Equality - Unite the union

Race Equality - Unite the union

Housing Briefing - Race Equality Foundation

Housing Briefing - Race Equality Foundation

Race Equality Scheme – Annual Report June 2010€¦ · Equality & Diversity . Race Equality Scheme – Annual Report June 2010 _____ Q:\DATA\MANAGERS\Christine Nightingale\dmu equality

Race Equality Scheme – Annual Report June 2010€¦ · Equality & Diversity . Race Equality Scheme – Annual Report June 2010 _____ Q:\DATA\MANAGERS\Christine Nightingale\dmu equality

Colour, Culture, Ethnic, Race and Religious Equality · PDF fileColour, Culture, Ethnic, Race and Religious Equality Policy Key Information A simple, stand alone reference guide with

Colour, Culture, Ethnic, Race and Religious Equality · PDF fileColour, Culture, Ethnic, Race and Religious Equality Policy Key Information A simple, stand alone reference guide with

RACE EQUALITY AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT · 2011. 2. 7. · 2. Procurement and the duty to promote race equality 17 How can we assess the impact of our procurement function on race equality?

RACE EQUALITY AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT · 2011. 2. 7. · 2. Procurement and the duty to promote race equality 17 How can we assess the impact of our procurement function on race equality?

Scotland and Race Equality - Runnymede Trust / … Equality...Scotland and Race Equality Directions in Policy and Identity Runnymede: Intelligence for a Multi-ethnic Britain Runnymede

Scotland and Race Equality - Runnymede Trust / … Equality...Scotland and Race Equality Directions in Policy and Identity Runnymede: Intelligence for a Multi-ethnic Britain Runnymede

Evaluation of the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES)

Evaluation of the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES)

WORKFORCE RACE EQUALITY STANDARD

WORKFORCE RACE EQUALITY STANDARD

Race Equality in the NHS

Race Equality in the NHS

Race equality guide - British Council€¦ · Race equality guide “A real barrier and challenge to race equality is the fact that race and racism remain great taboos and are underestimated.

Race equality guide - British Council€¦ · Race equality guide “A real barrier and challenge to race equality is the fact that race and racism remain great taboos and are underestimated.

Delivering Race Equality: DIVERSE APPROACHES TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES

Delivering Race Equality: DIVERSE APPROACHES TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES

Capitalism, Race, and the Struggle for Equality

Capitalism, Race, and the Struggle for Equality