Since the enactment of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 no schools have been closed and yet by 2007 we have seen racist incidents and bullying in schools skyrocketing to dangerous new levels.

BTEG identifies with the Commission for Racial Equality in their belief that schools are 'a ticking time bomb waiting to explode' and that future harmony will depend on preparing today's pupils to live in a diverse Britain.

BTEG is concerned that the recent tough talk on closing schools that do not promote good race relations will remain just that - talk!

OSTED, the body charged with policing the Act in schools, is woefully unprepared to undertake this task. Very little training and power have been given to school inspectors in this area.

A BTEG survey of 20 schools in several English regions proves the point that implementing the Act will be an uphill battle for OFSTED.

Jeremy Crook, BTEG's director said:

Ofsted needs to be equipped to do its job, and this means adequate training and resources. Anything less will render the Race Relations Act a paper exercise and a lack of political will, whilst the cost now of ensuring future racial harmony is far less then the cost of responding to future racial tensions.

Ends.

Notes to editors:

1. BTEG (the Black Training & Enterprise Group) is a high profile national organisation set up in 1991 to ensure fair access and outcomes for black communities in employment, training and enterprise and to act as a catalyst for enabling black groups and individuals to play an active role in the economic regeneration of local communities through partnership with others.

• Its core aim is to achieve measurable improvements for black people nationally, in four key areas:
• Employment - Increasing the employment rates for black people to the national average
• Economic Regeneration - Ensuring black communities contribute to the economic regeneration of their communities
• Education - Raising the attainment levels of black pupils in education to the national average
• Enterprise - Increasing the chances of success and growth for black entrepreneurs and black enterprises

BTEG strives to achieve these core aims through a range of lobbying and support activities. This involves working with black communities, organisations and businesses involved in regeneration activities as well as with statutory agencies that develop or influence policy in the above areas.

2. The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 requires schools, education institutions and local education authorities to ensure they meet the full range of pupils' diverse needs and be aware of the equal opportunities legislation that covers, race, gender and disability. They are also required to show 'due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups'. In addition, the Act requires also schools to have a race equality policy that is linked to an action plan, which should lie at the heart of the practice and admissions police of schools. They must periodically monitor and assess how their policies affect ethnic minority pupils, staff and parents.

3. BTEG commissioned a research earlier this year on 'The Impact of the Race Relations Amendment Act on Secondary Schools'. 50 schools from different English regions were contacted for the study, but the researchers experienced an extreme lack of cooperation from the schools and in the end only three schools agreed to participate in the research. 13 schools declined outright, many without giving any reasons. The remaining schools gave a combination of reasons, including time constraints, staff shortages, and in one case the deputy head teacher said: "We have a lot of things concerning race relations and it's all getting a bit too much now." Because of these difficulties, the researchers have had to ask for more time to expand the number of schools involved in the research.

4. In 2006 BTEG established a Centre for Educational Success (CES) to address the issues of underachievement and to redress the balance of achievement of 5 or more Grades A-C at GCES or equivalent by ethnicity. To achieve this goal the CES seeks to influence policy makers and educational practitioners to improve education policy and performance.

Government policies and programmes for improving education attainment concentrate on schools and young people. However, we believe that community education projects make a significant contribution to the education experience of many young BME people. But all too often this contribution is not recognised by the statutory sector. The CES therefore seeks to provide a voice for community education projects at the national level so that government can hear and understand what really makes a difference for young black and minority ethnic people and their parents.

Source: DfES 2005.

For further information contact:

Jeremy Crook - Director of BTEG
Day: 020 7520 2431