lib dem race equality task force report
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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).
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/
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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)
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/
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.”
……………………………………………………….
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.