Today (Tuesday 25 May 2021), on the anniversary of the death of
George Floyd, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’
union NAHT, reflects on how policy makers cannot afford to let
any more time pass before addressing racism, equality and
diversity in society, saying:
“The Black Lives Matter protests that arose after the death of
George Floyd have given voice to a generation of young people and
individuals who are rightly frustrated by the continued
oppression caused by inequality and racism. Correctly, they are
demanding change. The governments of the UK, and around the
world, must accept and act on this.
“For this reason, the findings of the government’s recent Sewell
Report are deeply unhelpful. NAHT has heard from many members
that they feel profoundly disappointed, let down and insulted by
the report because it simply does not reflect the reality of
their lived experiences.
“Education remains one of the best tools we have to tackle the
scourge of racism and inequality in this country, set alongside a
wider societal approach. But as a profession we also need to be
prepared to hold a mirror up to ourselves. We know that our
profession is not yet fully representative of the communities we
serve, and that this is a particular issue at senior leadership
level. NAHT is committed to addressing this issue head-on and is
actively supporting efforts to develop diversity and inclusion
within the education profession.
“It is important for all children to have positive role models
from a wide range of backgrounds and ethnicities. This helps to
break down stereotypes and prejudice and encourages children to
broaden their horizons and ambitions and fulfil their educational
potential.
"It is clear that there remains a huge amount of work to do when
it comes to tackling racism and race equality in the UK. Schools
need the full backing of the government in order to meet the high
standards being demanded by campaigners and young people.”
