Diversity & Inclusion Services

In the wake of the global Black Lives Matter protests, institutions are being asked to review how they move on from a place of non-racist to anti-racist, with a specific stance on anti-blackness.

Independent and grammar schools, in particular, have come under public scrutiny in this respect, and the issues highlighted can be attributed to a disproportionate lack of Black staff and students in these spaces.

In response to the series of open letters sent to schools by students and alumni detailing experiences of racism, in June 2020, ACEN members requested that we contact over 40+ Independent and Grammar schools as a collective. To, both address issues of racism, and, offer solutions to move towards the creation of actively anti-racist learning environments for both students and staff alike. Please click here for a copy of the ACEN letter.

The resulting conversations were largely positive and lead to the vast majority of schools asking for unconscious bias training.

Undoubtedly, there is space for unconscious bias and racial literacy training, however, we feel it provides too narrow a focus that may have limited success if delivered in silos as opposed to being part of a holistic framework. Central to this is the knowledge that an independent audit of each environment should be carried out first, to ensure actions undertaken will result in change that is recognised as relevant by members of the minority group, as well as internal and external stakeholders.

To address this and help schools undertake the necessary work in an organised, relevant and accountable manner, we have created a comprehensive anti-racism framework with services that directly tackle the host of issues as communicated by thousands of students, parents, and alumni across the country. The framework is vast and covers everything from curriculum recommendations and policy to lost and potential customer research.

If you are an ACEN member and would like us to commence talks with your school for the first time, or, continue communication with your school, please send an email to shola@aceducationnetwork.com

If you are a school that would like to discuss these services further, please also send an email shola@aceducationnetwork.com.

Media Coverage

The Independent (where you will also find the original alumni open letter)
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/letters/racism-black-students-schools-george-floyd-death-protests-coronavirus-a9542441.html

TES
https://www.tes.com/news/racism-black-pupils-tell-n-word-abuse-uk-private-schools

Further Reading

‘Race and Racism in Secondary Schools’ – Runnymede Trust
https://www.runnymedetrust.org/projectsand-publications/education/racism-insecondary-schools.html

‘A Roadmap to Race Equality’ – The Equality and Human Rights Commission
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/race-strategy-roadmap-to-race-equality.pdf

‘Evaluating the Impact of Anti-racism interventions on young people in Secondary Schools’ – The Equality and Human Rights Commission
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/prejudice-unlawful-behaviour-anti-prejudice-projects-show-racism-the-red-card_0.pdf

‘The Race Disparity Audit’ – UK Cabinet Office
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/686071/Revi
sed_RDA_report_March_2018.pdf

Further Watching

‘The school that tried to end racism’ – Channel 4
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-school-that-tried-to-end-racism

‘Will Britain ever have a Black Prime Minister’ – BBC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0uXJkgAmWU&t=1069s