St Anne’s (RC) School – ‘A Shared Understanding about
Race Equality’
“ Creating a greater sense of shared ownership within
and for the school
community.”
• The project aimed to raise achievement
through building confidence, self-esteem and trust within the school
community;
• Gain a clearer understanding of the perceptions of the wider community;
• To identify current good practice.
Theatre in Education work was carried out with the targeted pupils (Years
3 and 4) following focus groups and recommendations were made for future
actions in regard to pupils, staff and the wider community.
Key
actions taken
• Audit analysis of all school policies/documents was completed.
This recognised current good practice in terms of race equality and equal
opportunities, as well as identifying areas requiring further action.
• The focus groups were carried out with pupils in Years 3 and 4, teaching
and non-teaching staff, and also parents/carers. The findings were used to inform
both Chinwag (Theatre in Education) and also the school as to current perceptions.
• The project also aimed to develop closer links with both Thomas Buxton
Juniors and Swanlea School. Pupils attended a Theatre in Education session at
Swanlea School, then shared their experiences with their peers. Joint sessions
involving all schools proved to be impossible.
• Following consultations with the Head and Deputy Head, school policies
and the Staff Handbook are being revised to include race equality. A draft race
equality policy is in place, and a working group will be established in September
2002 to finalise, monitor and review this.
• A staff awareness-raising INSET day is taking place on 2nd September,
to be held jointly with Thomas Buxton Juniors, involving external consultants.
Key
issues arising from the project
• The parents/carers focus group identified
many challenging issues for the school. This will be addressed in a
new project starting in September
20 02.
• The school is also involving the Catholic Church in its proactive approach
to opposing racism, with a parents/carers group planned for September 2002.
• The focus groups suggested that there was some confusion and uncertainty
in regard to current race equality legislation and procedures. The staff awareness-raising
INSET will address these areas of uncertainty, and ensure that a consistent whole
school approach is adopted in regard to opposing racism.
• School policies are being updated to include the new race equality policy.
• There needs to be tracking of pupils who participated in the focus groups,
to evaluate the impact of the project in the longer term. This will be organised
in the Autumn Term.
• Pupil data is now being analysed by ethnicity to identify pupils who
are underachieving, and individual action plans are being used to address this.
• St Anne’s will continue to work with Swanlea School and Thomas
Buxton Juniors on joint learning activities.
Equalities
and inclusion projects/Race Equality workshops 2003-2004 expression
of interest proforma 
