YOUR VOICE Stephen Lawrence Day A legacy for change - Voice Community
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YOUR
VOICE
No. 53 APRIL/MAY 2021 £2.00
Stephen Lawrence Day
A legacy for change
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
5LEGAL 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.
9There 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
21You can also read
