Following the success of the two previous projects on equalities and anti-racism, a notice was placed in the Head Teachers Bulletin inviting all schools to participate in a race equality project for 2001/2 focusing on recommendations contained in the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report. ‘The Local Education Authorities and school governors have the duty to create and implement strategies in their schools to prevent and address racism.’

The Education Directorate in Tower Hamlets recognise that in order to achieve a greater understanding with regard to race equality as well as examining attitudes to prevent racism – problems which exist; real and potential, we need to:

• Build on the existing good practice within schools;
• Focus on anti-racism and the positive reasons for non-discriminatory behaviour;
• Acknowledge cultural diversity and why we need to look at similarities, as well as differences;
• Relate to and includes values and beliefs and how these are formed;
• Stress the importance of how negative and prejudicial attitudes and behaviour can have a profound impact on individuals and groups, both personal and academic achievements.
  

Schools were also invited to attend a meeting at the Professional Development Centre to find out more about the previous projects and also discuss how their school could be involved. Several schools attended this meeting and subsequently had race equality projects, whilst other schools contacted the external manager of the project, who then went into the school to discuss the race equality project. It was stressed that the project had to meet the needs of the school and build upon their existing good practice, as identified in their School Development Plan and/or recommendations from their Ofsted report.

Moreover, it was recognised that it was important to have a named-coordinator who could be contacted more easily than the head teacher. Once this was agreed, a project proposal was written by the external facilitator, and an agreement letter (stating that the school would allow their project to be circulated to other schools/school development advisers/LEA members and be placed on a website) was then signed by the head teacher and returned to the Equalities and Partnership Development Manager.

Experience from the previous projects clearly identified that where schools, had the support of external organisations for training, staff development, and report writing they found that this was invaluable. The ‘burden’ of report writing and general management of any project can often be seen as an onerous task, when added to the existing roles and responsibilities of head teachers and staff. Consequently, only one project is currently being managed by the school, while all the other projects had the advice and support of external facilitators.

A maximum of £8,000 was made available to fund single projects with a total budget of £110,000. Poplar Partnership, which has 5 schools, had a budget of £15,000. In total there have been 12 projects involving four secondary schools and 12 primary schools and one special school. One secondary school - Swanlea linked with two primary schools – St Anne’s (RC) School and Thomas Buxton Junior School. St Anne’s (RC) School and Thomas Buxton Junior School, and Bygrove and Manorfield School had joint staff INSETs.

School projects focused on developing a race equality policy; auditing their existing policies; focus group discussions with pupils, staff and parents; tutorial materials; literature; music; and staff development workshops.

All schools have received written reviews and interim reports, as well as a final report with regard to their project. Schools have also written their own review of the projects and identified, in collaboration with the external facilitators, targets and action plans for further work on race equality and anti-racism.

A synopsis report of all the projects is also available, which details the aims of the project and also the external facilitators involved.

The overall projects were managed by external facilitators in collaboration with the Equalities and Partnership Development Manager.

	Overview
	Bow School (Boys Secondary)
	Central Foundation School (Girls Secondary)
	The Cherry Trees School
	Chisenhale Primary School
	Columbia Market Nursery School
	Globe Primary School
	Poplar Partnership EAZ
	St Agnes (RC) Primary School
	St Anne's (RC) Primary School
	Stebon Primary School
	Swanlea Secondary School
	Thomas Buxton Junior School