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Figures released following a freedom of information request show that in a five-year period leading up to 2021, over 60,000 racist incidents were reported in schools. The true scale of the problem is thought to be much worse. All schools must work towards embedding a culture of anti-racist values amongst staff, pupils, and the wider community. Central to that is creating an open and inclusive environment that facilitates conversation and discussion.
The Embedding Anti-Racism in School Conference 2023 is the perfect place for you to start that conversation. It will give you, as a leader, the tools you need to continue that in your school community and actively work towards embedding anti-racism in your school.
You will return to your school empowered to lead from the front to improve the racial literacy of school staff, address under representation in the workforce and understand how you can set about decolonising your school curriculum. You’ll be able to take a fresh look at your school’s policies and procedures to determine if they demonstrate your commitment to anti-racism.
“95% of young Black people have heard and witnessed racist language at school.”
“Education can play a pivotal role in tackling discrimination in society. It is through education that we can start to build a truly inclusive society…But as a profession we also need to be prepared to hold a mirror up to ourselves. We know that our profession is not yet representative of the communities we serve, and that this is a particular issue at senior leadership level.”
Feedback from the Embedding Anti-Racism in Schools Conference, January 2023
“Really great knowledge and guidance provided from all speakers. Nice to have the interactive break out rooms and be given actual information/resources that we can use right away!”
“Great information. So much to work on…made me realise we have a long way to go with implementing strategies in my school”
“Excellent range of ideas, resources and strategies from a variety of perspectives”
“Has given lots of direction for the next steps in developing a whole school strategy”
Who should attend?
Headteachers, Deputy Heads, Assistant Heads, Heads of Inclusion, Pastoral Leads and other members of the SLT.
This conference will enable you to:
- Reflect on the challenges in the education sector surrounding racism
- Identify gaps in your school’s policies and procedures and update them where necessary
- Understand what an anti-racism action plan might look like in practice
- Address racial inequalities that might exist in your school’s curriculum
- Talk openly about appropriate language and the impact of language
- Appropriately challenge racist behaviour in the classroom, as well as the wider school community
- Use student voice to support you to make improvements
- Assess how racism in school might be impacting your students and staff and how you can offer appropriate and meaningful support
- Improve racial literacy of staff through outstanding training
- Overhaul your recruitment procedures to help you to build a more diverse workforce
- Support progression amongst staff from ethnic minority backgrounds to improve retention and work towards a more diverse leadership team