YOUR VOICE Stephen Lawrence Day A legacy for change - Voice Community
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STEPHEN LAWRENCE DAY COMMUNITY Baroness Doreen Lawrence – herself a Community member – said: ‘Today’s Having difficult conversations, with Hope not Hate, will be held on 27 May, PARTNERS schoolchildren are perhaps the most engaged generation there has ever aimed at combating racism, xenophobia and all forms of prejudice. The session WITH STEPHEN been – keenly aware of injustices around them and with a strong desire to will offer effective methods for changing the minds of people who have LAWRENCE DAY root them out. Britain has to continue to work towards a fairer society – there deeply-held, irrational views that are racist or xenophobic, without relying on FOUNDATION remains progress to be made and now “myth-busting” techniques. Details via is not the time for complacency. link below. Community has partnered with the ‘Not all schoolchildren today may have The webinars can be viewed on our Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation heard the name Stephen Lawrence website, where you can also download to support educators to promote or know his story. But the last year teaching materials and other resources, racial equality and keep the legacy has shown us that Stephen’s story – including a new range of special Voice of Stephen Lawrence alive amongst unequal treatment because of skin Community resources: children and young people. colour, and exposure to embedded prejudice in systems, structures and www.voicetheunion.org.uk/sldf- T he partnership is already working institutions – is as relevant today as it partnership to support teachers to take the has ever been. lessons from Stephen’s life of tolerance and anti-discrimination and ‘I look forward to working to empower deliver them to young people. educators across the country to have those conversations in the classroom, General Secretary Roy Rickhuss said: share Stephen’s legacy and work with ‘Stephen Lawrence Day reminds us young people to build the kind of all of the role we all have to play in society we all want to see.’ creating a society free from racism and prejudice. We are very clear that racism Background is a trade union issue. It affects people inside and outside the workplace – Baroness Lawrence, Stephen whether that be their experiences of Lawrence’s mother, inaugurated the discrimination, access to decent jobs, first annual Stephen Lawrence Day in equal pay or the disproportionate 2019 to mark the 25th anniversary deaths that BAME communities have of Stephen’s death in a racist attack. suffered from coronavirus. The day allows people to reflect upon the part we all play in creating a society ‘Last year, the tragic death of George in which everyone can flourish. Floyd once again brought systemic and structural racism to the forefront of Resources the public imagination. It showed us Around this year’s Stephen Lawrence that, despite the progress made over Day on 22 April, Community staff held a the past few decades, there is still so series of webinars for members: much more to do. > Anti-racism in education and beyond ‘We are immensely proud to be with Doreen Lawrence and an expert partnering with the Stephen Lawrence panel; and Day Foundation. This work will enable teachers to effectively have what can > Hate crime.s sometimes be difficult conversations The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation around race and discrimination in the also held a virtual school assembly classroom, as well as equipping them focused on the themes of friendship, with the tools to teach young people respect and difference. about tolerance and antiracism to create a better and more equal future for us all.”
ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY’S VOICE/STEPHEN LAWRENCE DAY RETURN, Racism still exists and affects people every day, and despite RECOVERY AND the significant progress made RACISM over the last few decades, much remains to do. By Deborah Lawson, Assistant General Secretary (Voice Section) There is also the wider issue of socio- (DLawson@community-tu.org) economic deprivation – linked to poverty of expectations, fewer extracurricular Free childcare qualifications activities, and reduced educational Return and recovery Free childcare training is being offered opportunities – which is a major and April 2021 saw the return, in stages, to by the Government in England as part endemic factor in poor outcomes in full face-to-face teaching and learning of a £95 million package of measures many communities. Community and for members across the UK. Many of aimed at supporting economic recovery other unions have written to the Prime you have told us how much it meant from the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister calling for an end to workplace to you, and the children, to be back in exploitation for all working people. The fully funded training includes a person. It is because of the key role of education number of level 3 courses, including Early Years Educators diplomas, such in building a fair, inclusive and civilised We continue to support members with as early years workforce and children’s society that values difference, that workplace issues and concerns. If you learning and development courses, plus Community has partnered with the need advice or information, do let us the level 3 NVQ in playwork, and City Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation to know. and Guilds level 2 Technical Certificate promote racial equality. in healthcare, care and childcare. www.voicetheunion.org.uk/race-report The cost of courses has been a barrier for many students and employers so this is welcome news. Because of our concerns about the report, Voice Community has proposed The full list of free courses can be an emergency motion for the May found at: www.gov.uk/government/ General Council Meeting of the General publications/qualifications-in-new- Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU): funded-offers ‘Conference welcomes the recognition Podcasts of the role that education plays in I am pleased to announce the first two advancing equality but believes that episodes of the new Education Policy the Government’s Race and Ethnic Podcast are now available to download Disparities Commission Report fails at https://ctueducationpolicy. to acknowledge the reality of systemic podbean.com . racism in the UK.’ ‘Conference calls upon the GFTU to: Each month we will be > support staff in education settings to recording a new podcast to mark Stephen Lawrence day on 22nd April each year and support the work of update members on policy the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation activities in the education to share Stephen’s story and work to educate all pupils about the part they sector. can play in creating a fair society where everyone can flourish; The first episode (for England) looks at Racism > support member unions to campaign teachers’ pay, NQT induction, education The report of the (Sewell) Commission against racism; recovery and exams for 2021, and on Race and Ethnic Disparities has the second face coverings in schools proved highly controversial (see page 9). > call upon the Government to end its and colleges, behaviour hubs, teacher divisive rhetoric that seeks to deny the resignation dates, employment We welcomed its recognition of the reality of racism in the UK; and references and myth-busting lesson powerful impact that education has plans for Ofsted. in transforming the lives of both > call on employers to advance anti- individuals and society, but there racism work and to improve their is no room for complacency or strategies for recruiting and retaining self-congratulation on the part of workers from diverse backgrounds.’ government and our institutions. www.voicetheunion.org.uk/GFTU- motion-racism 4
STEPHEN LAWRENCE DAY FROM THE Stephen Lawrence Day tackle racism and discrimination in the classroom and beyond, and so GENERAL If children and young people learn tolerance within their education you can play your part in creating a SECRETARY and early years settings, this can more tolerant and accepting society. change our whole society for We have also developed a range of By Roy Rickhuss CBE, General the better. It can reduce racist age-appropriate materials which Secretary of Community tendencies amongst the adult include: An investigation carried out by The population, reduce racist incidents, Guardian earlier this year found discrimination and even bias within > a staff briefing; that over 60,000 racist incidents workplaces, lead to a reduction in > suggestions for assemblies; and took place in UK schools over the race-related hate crime and help past five years. This number, as to create a less racist culture that > a suite of other resources which shocking as it is, is likely not a true gives everyone the opportunity to allow for different curriculum entry reflection of the extent of the succeed. points. problem, as schools aren’t obliged These materials are all to report racist incidents to local It is because we know and value available on the SLDF website councils. the importance of education in (stephenlawrenceday.org) and can be building a fair and inclusive society Y used flexibly to support the children et schools are tackling this that we have partnered with the problem head on, with hundreds and young people in your school to Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation signing up to reform their understand the part they play as (SLDF). As educators, you help curriculum to reflect the achievements individuals in creating a fair society of black and ethnic minority people children, young people and adult in which everyone can flourish. and address the legacy of colonialism. learners to be more tolerant and to These schools are partnering with celebrate difference on a regular Find out more about how you charities and other organisations basis. These conversations can to do so, in the absence of national can get involved on page 3 (or at be challenging, particularly if less www.voicetheunion.org.uk/sldf- government-led change for schools (although the Welsh Government is now tolerant views have already begun partnership) and to get the latest taking action – see page 21). to be shaped outside the classroom. information, register your interest Our partnership with the Stephen with us here: https://community-tu. Despite this lack of government-led Lawrence Day Foundation aims to org/stephen-lawrence-day-2021- change outside Wales, we know that education and early years settings give you the skills and confidence get-involved are already major players in helping to you need in having these difficult tackle racism and discrimination. The conversations and tackling racism Please do get involve as, by working Government’s own Commission on Race and discrimination. together, we will change our society and Ethnic Disparities also found this for the better, and create a place in their recently published report (see As a result of our partnership, we page 4). where every adult and child is have been running webinars on given fair and equal opportunity to having difficult conversations, hate succeed, regardless of the colour of crime and more. These webinars their skin. have been developed to help you to 5
LEGAL FOCUS: STEPHEN LAWRENCE DAY RACE EQUALITY MUST BE MORE THAN AN ASPIRATION By Catherine Scrivens, Solicitor and white workers, where it rose from 3.4% Community and other unions have Head of Legal Services, Community to 4.5% – an increase of just under a written to the Prime Minister stating (CScrivens@community-tu.org) third. that an end to workplace exploitation for all working people will help end As we remember Stephen Lawrence, Unions and campaigners subsequently systemic racism (www.tuc.org.uk/news/ it’s an opportunity to consider what signed a joint statement calling on trade-union-leaders-write-pm-calling- the Prime Minister to take the action him-reject-insulting-report-and-act- the racial landscape is like in the UK he pledged in 2020 to end structural race-equality-work). in 2021. racism and inequality. T he MacPherson Report was Racism at work Young black workers have been hit commissioned in 1997, following disproportionately hard during the An April 2019 TUC report, Racism Stephen’s death, and published pandemic, according to Guardian ruins lives, found the majority of ethnic two years later with its headline finding analysis, reported in The Observer of minority workers had experienced racial that the Metropolitan Police were 11 April 2021 (www.theguardian.com/ harassment at work and been subjected ‘institutionally racist’. society/2021/apr/11/black-youth- to unfair treatment by their employer unemployment-rate-brixton-riots- because of their race. A 2018 report found that the covid) with more than 40% unemployed Metropolitan Police were four times – three times worse than white workers more likely to use force against black of the same age. Between October and people compared with the white December 2020, 41.6% of black population (www.bbc.co.uk/news/ people aged 16-24 were uk-england-london-44214748). Home unemployed – the Office data showed Thames Valley highest rate since officers carried out 12,245 stop the last financial and searches in the year to March. crisis – whereas Population estimates for the area white workers showed 15.5 per 1,000 black people of the same age were stopped, compared to just 3.2 per stood at 1,000 white people. But the problem to 12.4%. runs deeper. In 2020, the death of George Floyd Sewell in the US put the spotlight on racial Commission inequality around the world. At the same The Sewell time, it was becoming apparent there Commission was a disproportionately higher number Report on Race of deaths in BAME communities. The and Ethnic disproportionate impact of stop and Disparities search by the police was also widely released in reported. This led to the Government March 2021(see setting up the Sewell Commission to page 4) dismayed investigate race and ethnic disparities. many with its findings. Racism still a lived reality According to The In 2021, racism is still a lived reality Observer (11 April), for most ethnic minorities in the UK. significant sections As recent reports highlight, the gap of the report, isn’t narrowing, and the pandemic has which were widely highlighted gaping differences. criticised by health professionals, In February 2021, the TUC reported academics and on the Office for National Statistics crime experts, were (ONS) Labour Market Status by Ethnic not written by the Groups figures, which revealed that 12 commissioners. The the BAME unemployment rate shot full document was not made up from 5.8% to 9.5% between the final available to be signed off by them, quarter of 2019 and the final quarter nor were they made aware of its final of 2020. This increase of nearly-two recommendations. The finished report, thirds is staggering when compared to it is alleged, was produced by No 10. 9
There is evidence on racial inequalities In addition: > ‘“I was terrified”: pupils tell of being in employment, income, promotion and > a third reported that they had been victimised in UK schools’ (www. training, but recognition of workplace bullied and/or subjected to insensitive theguardian.com/education/2021/ racism remains muted. To address this, questioning; mar/24/i-was-terrified-pupils-tell-of- the TUC commissioned the University of being-victimised-in-uk-schools). Manchester to undertake the Racism at > almost 15% of women and 8% of men said racial discrimination had caused Teachers have spoken of systemic and at Work survey (2016/17). them to leave their job; times overt racism they have suffered, The responses from over 5,000 people as figures reveal the tiny percentage of > 28% of participants who reported BAME staff in senior leadership positions. were shocking, with over 70% of ethnic experiencing racism at work reported minority workers saying they had having to take a period of sick leave; experienced racial harassment at work Action in the previous five years, and around > part-time or non-permanent There is hope. After a groundswell of 60% reporting unfair treatment by their employees were more likely to report demand from young people, grassroots employer because of their race. Almost racial harassment and discrimination; groups, teachers and councils are helping half reported that racism had negatively > over 40% of those who reported a to update syllabuses, with schools across impacted on their ability to do their job, racist incident said they were either England reforming their curriculums to and almost half had been subject to ignored, or that they had subsequently reflect the achievements of black and ‘verbal abuse and racist jokes’. been identified as a ‘troublemaker’; and minority ethnic people and address the harmful legacy of colonialism. The Welsh Many of the forms of workplace racism > more than one-in-ten respondents Government is also taking action (see highlighted in this report were hate raising a complaint said that they were page 21). crimes, including over one in ten ethnic subsequently disciplined or forced out minority respondents and 6% of non- of their job. However, anti-discrimination legislation, British white participants reporting that outlawing discrimination within the (https://hummedia.manchester.ac.uk/ they had experienced racist violence at Equality Act 2010 on grounds of race institutes/code/research/projects/ work. – which covers nationality, colour and racism-at-work/tuc-full-report.pdf) ethnic origins – is clearly not enough. Racism in education As individuals, we have to do more: In 2019, the Equality & Human > if we are white, we need to understand Rights Commission published Racial our own privilege and consider our own harassment in British universities: unconscious biases; qualitative research findings (www.equalityhumanrights.com/ > if we see racism, we need to call it out en/publication-download/racial- – being a silent bystander allows the harassment-british-universities- behaviours to continue; and qualitative-research-findings), > if we want to do more, encourage which reported that higher education employers to embrace the concept of institutions (HEIs) found it difficult to workplace allies. address the issue of racial harassment, including because of under-reporting. Allyship is a lifelong process of building Victims of racial harassment were relationships based on trust, consistency, thought to be reluctant to come and accountability with marginalized forward because of a lack of faith in individuals and/or groups of people. It the complaints process, so many HEIs is not self-defined, but rather work and were concerned they did not have a full efforts must be recognised by those you understanding of the problem. are seeking to ally with. The Guardian has recently produced a number of articles on racism in Further reading education affecting BAME staff and ‘The Sewell report on racial disparity is pupils, including: an attempt to erase progress and sow division’ (The Guardian: www.theguardian. > ‘Exclusion rates five times higher com/commentisfree/2021/apr/02/ for black Caribbean pupils in parts sewell-report-racial-disparity-progress- of England’ (www.theguardian.com/ division-racism) education/2021/mar/24/exclusion- rates-black-caribbean-pupils- ‘Systemic racism: teachers speak out england); about discrimination in UK schools’ > ‘British schools are institutionally (The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/ racist. That must change fast’ (www. education/2021/mar/24/systemic- theguardian.com/education/2021/ racism-teachers-speak-out-about- mar/24/british-schools-are- discrimination-in-uk-schools) institutionally-racist-that-must- change-fast); and The Prince’s Responsible Business Network: Anti-Racism and Allyship in the Workplace: A Brief Guide (2020: www. bitc.org.uk/toolkit/anti-racism-and- allyship-in-the-workplace-a-brief- guide)
VOICE COMMUNITY CYMRU The new curriculum is said to provide content relate to how much the more experimental opportunities from qualifications proposed reflect the four which children from disadvantaged purposes; as put forward, they are only backgrounds would benefit. The a slight modification to what already difficulty may be in providing this exists. experimental opportunity within the given budget. We need more innovation to Voice Community welcomes the fully respond to the needs move away from burdensome, narrow of the 21st century learner. accountability practices and teaching- Without innovation, there TEACHERS’ PAY 2021/22: to-the-exam that the new curriculum heralds. This is also recognised by the remains a focus on the end Independent Welsh Pay establishment of the Managing Wellbeing point of the qualification Review Body (IWPRB) and Reducing Bureaucracy Group, of rather than looking at what a Oral Evidence which Voice Community is a member. good assessment should look In March, Assistant General While welcoming the return to local like. The current plans rely on Secretary Deborah Lawson and knowledge, original thought and pupil specialisms, and only some I attended the IWPRB panel to expression, the unions have raised schools will be to offer the concerns about: give oral evidence to support our GCSEs proposed. demands on members’ behalf. > the lack of funding available to support the new curriculum; The Qualifications Wales consultation, Questions raised included ALNCos, Qualified for the Future, documents (Additional Learning Needs Co- > the capacity of teachers who have are at: https://qualificationsWales.org/ ordinators), TLRs, (teaching and limited non-contact time; english/get-involved/consultations- learning responsiblities), lead > the possible workload impact; and and-surveys/closed-consultations-and- practitioner roles, and unqualified surveys/qualified-for-the-future > how parity will be achieved across teachers. schools, given disparity in reserves. BAME communities and the Exhaustion, after working to Qualifications curriculum deliver learning throughout the Qualifications Wales has been involved pandemic, has impacted teachers’ Voice Community welcomed Kirsty in the co-construction of the new Williams’s acceptance of the resilience. Teachers’ workload has curriculum, and is developing new recommendations of the Black, Asian therefore been a key element in qualifications. and Minority Ethnic Communities, our submissions. We highlighted Contributions and Cynefin in the New the need for them to have more A qualification mirroring the new Curriculum Working Group: final report, non-teaching time – calling for curriculum needs to reflect an which include: assessment policy and practice which an increase of PPA (planning, is uncoupled from high stakes external > mandatory anti-racism and diversity preparation and assessment time) accountability. training for all trainee and serving from 10% to 20%, and for more teachers; staff to be employed to support that. The Donaldson report calls for teacher assessment to be the main vehicle for > BAME history to be mandatory; We also called for full recognition assessment before qualification. This > scholarships to support BAME of experienced teachers’ vital role raises issues of validity, reliability and students to enter teacher training; in mentoring and supporting early alignment with external benchmarks, as > mentoring and social support for BAME career teachers, embedding them well issues of equality and bias. teachers; in school and preventing early These issues are also relevant to the departures from the profession. > working with unions to support staff centre determined grades that will experiencing discrimination; and replace exams in 2021, which require For this year, Voice Community more input from teachers and the need > diversity champions on governing advocates a 2.7% pay award for robust moderation, generating bodies. across the scales, protecting the increased workload. The history of Wales and its diversity will discretions between the scales. be mandatory within Humanities in the The extent to which assessment new curriculum. The IWPRB’s decision is expected for certification can be realistically from the end of May. uncoupled in practice from the new www.voicetheunion.org.uk/BAME- curriculum remains a major concern. curriculum More at: www.voicetheunion.org.uk/ Some questions raised by the current iwprb-2021 21
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