Raising attainment of BME pupils - 2007 Year of Black achievement

Bristol LA, in partnership with Black and minority ethnic (BME) organisations have developed a comprehensive strategy and action plan to raise the achievement of BME pupils.

Comprehensive data on the current achievement and attendance of BME groups is contained in the Equalities Audit, but the last two years have seen a consistent improvement in the results of BME groups at GCSE.

Several different initiatives have been put in place as part of the strategy:

2007: The Year of Black Achievement

2007 marks the 200 th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. CYPS has decided to mark the year as the Year of Black Achievement in order to develop initiatives that are sustainable and really impact on the lives of Black young people in the city.

The year will consist of work in three areas:

Curriculum development – creating new resources for schools on Black Bristolians who have made a difference (in partnership with Bristol Black Archives Project) and embracing the Breazshare website for teachers. A conference was held on December 5 th 2006 to assist schools in developing a more culturally appropriate global curriculum.
Providing Positive Role Models – expanding the EMHEAP project and Aim Higher BME The Way Forward Project (see below)
Raising Aspirations – developing a series of seminars and a conference for young people on issues relating to Abolition 200, challenging negative stereotypes and raising aspirations. There will also be a range of courses to increase the confidence of teachers in delivering a culturally relevant anti-racist curriculum and addressing race equality issues.

Information will be sent to schools on projects available for schools to access, resources and the events taking place through the year.

Using additional funding from the Lottery Heritage Fund and Abolition 200, a range of events and resources were developed to support this work.

Consultation with Black young people revealed that many of them felt that they were invisible in the school curriculum and, if anything, they felt there is an over-emphasis on teaching the Transatlantic Slave Trade as the only aspect of their history consistently being studied. They were clear that they wanted to know about the thousands of years of Black history prior to colonial times and to hear about the achievements of people of African descent and of the great African empires. They also particularly wanted to hear about recent local history that seemed more relevant to them, and about the contribution of Black Bristolians in the 20th century.

With this in mind, a teaching resource was developed. Black Bristolians: People Who Make a Difference Teaching Pack.

This pack has been developed in partnership between Children and Young People's Services, the Bristol Black Archives Partnership (BBAP), (who interviewed the Black Bristolians, researched and wrote the biographies and supplied the images) and Firstborn Creatives.

The pack is designed to enable teachers to address a range of race equality issues with confidence, and to provide a sense of Black history and role models for young people. It includes biographies and teachers' notes on 25 Black Bristolians who have made a difference to the city, selected by BBAP. There are lesson plans for teachers to use, relevant to all ages, and a DVD made by Firstborn Creatives, in which young people from Glenfrome Primary School and The City Academy interview some of the key figures. The resource has been sponsored by BBAP and Cabot Circus.

Please click on the link to the BrEAZshare.net website on the right to access the pack.

EMHEAP (Ethnic Minority Higher Education Awareness Project)

The Ethnic Minority Achievement Service, in partnership with University of the West of England, has developed a BME mentoring project where UWE students are matched with Year 6 pupils in three primary schools and follow them through their transfer to secondary school. This was a great success in its first year with all mentored students gaining a level 4 in their SATs.

Aim Higher BME: The Way Forward Project

In partnership with UWE and other HE institutions, Bristol LA has a partnership to raise awareness of Higher Education amongst BME young people. A new regional project has been developed, which will have a mentoring strand, conferences and work shadowing focused on careers in teaching and media for African Caribbean and Multiple Heritage pupils.

Conferences for Multiple Heritage (Mixed Race) Young People and their Parents/Carers

Bristol LA has become increasingly concerned about the under-achievement of multiple heritage (mixed race) pupils, and their over-representation in exclusions, EBD schools, as Children Looked After and on the CP register. Therefore, the Equalities and Inclusion Team has been organising a series of events to start to address the issue and identify actions that need to be taken.

In 2006 a parents and carers conference, and a young people’s conference were held (see conference reports) and a number of recommendations were made. These have been followed through and a further conference will be held in Spring 2007.

Conference for parents / carers of Black and minority ethnic children

In 2005, a major conference for parents and carers of Black and minority ethnic pupils in Bristol schools was held. The event was the first of its kind locally.

The programme included national speakers, consultation workshops, information stalls and displays and an opportunity to meet senior officers from the LA and ask them about issues of concern.

Invitations were sent out to all parents and carers of BME children via Bristol schools, and it was advertised in the BME press and through local community and faith groups. It was attended by over 150 parents/carers from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Strategy to increase the number of BME governors

Bristol LA is keen to increase the number of BME governors and in 2006 undertook a major recruitment campaign in the BME communities. This was followed by induction sessions and a series of positive action training courses for BME governors. As a result, 35 BME people expressed an interest in becoming governors and there was a 2% increase in BME representation on governing bodies in schools.

In November 2006, a BME Governors’ Conference was held and it was agreed to establish an ongoing BME Governors’ Support Group in partnership with the Black Communities Education Support Group.

Children & Young People's Services

Raising attainment of BME pupils - 2007 Year of Black achievement