A project helping schools to teach learners about how to
challenge racism is playing a key role in the Welsh Government's
aim to being an anti-racist nation by 2030.
Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed in Newport is one of the schools
involved in the Diversity and Anti-racist Professional Learning
project (DARPL), a key part of the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan
(ArWAP). A refresh of the plan was launched earlier this week.
DARPL has provided resources, professional learning, and guidance
for thousands of educators across Wales, which is having a
positive impact on learners. Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed has
benefited from the project with teachers and learners developing
a deeper understanding of racism and what it means to be an
anti-racist school.
The school has introduced a pupil-led audit which includes an
action plan to address racism. To support anti-racism week, the
school has encouraged activity across all subject areas including
food tasting and assemblies.
The Anti-racist Wales Action Plan was launched by the Welsh
Government in 2022 to address and eliminate systemic racism and
racial inequalities in Wales.
The Plan has achieved several key milestones since it was
launched and expansion of the DARPL project has been key to that.
The refreshed plan reflects the progress made over the past two
years, addresses any barriers or challenges encountered, and has
been shaped by feedback from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic
people about the issues that affect them.
The refresh also introduces several changes, including new
actions and timelines, and enhanced roles for lead and delivery
partners. The leadership chapter, for example, has been
significantly strengthened to emphasise the importance of
anti-racist leadership. There is also a greater focus on
addressing the specific needs of groups such as Gypsy, Roma, and
Traveller people.
Deputy headteacher at Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed, who leads on the
DARPL initiative, Abigail said: “As a school we have
developed an understanding of institutional racism and what it
means to be an anti-racist school. We are creating a genuinely
anti-racist setting where learners feel safe to disclose, where
they have the confidence that they will be listened to and
believed so that their daily experience is a better one.”
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, said: “Our bold and ambitious
Anti-racist Wales Action Plan marks our commitment as a
government to tackle systemic and structural race inequality and
take an actively anti-racist approach.
“We have made progress in several areas since the plan was
launched in 2022, and the Diversity and Anti-racist Professional
Learning project is an excellent example of this, but we also
know we have a long way to go in achieving our goals.
“Inequality and racism continue to be felt very deeply by ethnic
minority communities in Wales. We know there have been many
incidents of racial hatred and threats following the recent
violent disorder in England and the ongoing conflict in the
Middle East. Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people are
therefore seeking reassurance that we remain committed to an
anti-racist Wales and that they will see improvements in their
everyday lives. The refreshed plan is an important part of
providing this reassurance.
“We cannot do this alone. Everyone, right across Wales, has an
important role to play. Working together we can embed anti-racism
in everything we do, to create a truly anti-racist Wales, a Wales
in which we can all be proud to belong, and in which each of us
can thrive.”
If you or someone you know has experienced hate crime you can
report it to the police or to the Wales Hate Support Centre which
is run by Victim Support. Call 0300 3031 982 or
email hate.crimewales@victimsupport.org.uk
The refreshed Anti-Racism Wales Action Plan can be found
at: www.gov.wales/anti-racist-wales
