Anti-racism in education: commitment and guidance
Guidance to support the anti-racism commitment made as part of the Anti-Racism in Education Programme (AREP).
Emerging practice and resources
To help with the implementation of the commitment principles, you may wish to consider existing emerging practice to help inform your approaches.
Safeguarding
We will safeguard against racism and discrimination, understanding these as a source of serious harm for learners, colleagues, families, carers and wider community members. Racism will be understood in the context of GIRFEC wellbeing indicators, children’s rights and human rights (anti-racist principles 8 and 17).
When considering racism and discrimination, this should include every day racism and micro-aggressions.
- NES Trauma Informed Training Resource to note that:
- this sets out a general approach to trauma informed training, not one that is specific to racial trauma
- that trauma can be compounded by intersecting protected characteristics
- Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) - SHANARRI indicators ensure that adversely racialised children, young people, teachers and the education workforce feel safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected responsible and included
Racism and racist incidents
Using a trauma-informed approach, we will regularly review our procedures for reporting, recording, monitoring and addressing racism and racist incidents in collaboration with staff, and learners, families and carers who have lived experience of racism in order to create an anti-racist ethos and culture where those staff and learners feel safe, respected and listened to (anti-racist principle 9).
- NES Trauma Informed Training Resource to note that:
- this sets out a general approach to trauma informed training, not one that is specific to racial trauma
- that trauma can be compounded by intersecting protected characteristics
- We Are All Special: Newark Primary Against Racism (YouTube)
- CRER Racially Motivated Bullying (squarespace.com)
- Addressing Inclusion - Effectively Challenging Racism in Schools
- Racist Incident Reporting in Scotland's Schools
- Dealing effectively with racism and racist incidents – Promoting Race Equality and Anti-racist Education (glowscotland.org.uk)
Reflection
We will reflect upon our assumptions and biases around racism, our racial and social identities and those of others, and use them to make active change to ensure our professional practice is culturally responsive (anti-racist principles 7 and 12).
This can align with learning from any prior anti-racist work, the Building Racial Literacy Programme, the Anti-Racist Framework for ITE and other relevant programmes or frameworks.
- Building Racial Literacy programme
- Anti-Racist Framework for ITE
- Testing Times - Reframing Race
- Story of the Building Racial Literacy Programme – Part 2 (YouTube)
- Seeds of antiracist education - final
- A Adams Bairns
- The myth of race - BBC Ideas
Anti-racist culture
We will foster an anti-racist culture where racism can be discussed openly, honestly and with humility, and with a willingness to take risks and make mistakes while remaining accountable for our actions (anti-racist curriculum principles 6 and 15)
- Towards a Fairer and More Equal Falkirk (Falkirk Council Mainstreaming Report - update 2023)
- Anti-Racist Education Guide for Teachers – Highland One World
- Safe spaces, inclusion, belonging and pupil empowerment (Professional Learning Blog - Professional Learning - Education Scotland)
- Story of the Building Racial Literacy Programme – Part 3 (YouTube)
Anti-racist leadership
We will demonstrate personal and collective leadership across the education system, both in actively promoting an anti-racist culture and in supporting people who experience racism (anti-racist principles 4 and 16).
This includes developing an anti-racist ethos where policy and procedures are in place to pro-actively address racism.
- Building Racial Literacy (education.gov.scot) (Interim Evaluation, May 2022)
- Blog 5: Reflections on the Building Racial Literacy (BRL) Programme (The University of Edinburgh)
- Leading systemic change – Promoting Race Equality and Anti-racist Education (glowscotland.org.uk)
- Towards a Fairer and More Equal Falkirk (Falkirk Council Mainstreaming Report - update 2023)
- Anti Racism Charter : Glasgow Education Service October 2023 (YouTube)
- historic links to slavery final (YouTube)
Curriculum
Working with a range of partners, including young people and anti-racism organisations, we will explore and start identifying actions to improve our curriculum so that it:
- meaningfully represents the rich and diverse communities in Scotland and beyond
- supports an understanding of Scotland’s role in historical world events, including trans-Atlantic enslavement and colonial histories, and their continuing impacts
- empowers children and young people to be critical global citizens who challenge discrimination and prejudice
(Anti-racist curriculum principles 1-4, 9 and 14)
- Breaking the mould: Principles for an anti-racist curriculum (Resources - Education Scotland)
- Introduction to Anti-Racist Curriculum Development - A Guide for Teachers in Scotland
- Scotland’s Curriculum – Promoting Race Equality and Anti-racist Education (glowscotland.org.uk)
- Towards a Fairer and More Equal Falkirk (Falkirk Council Mainstreaming Report - update 2023)
- Decolonising the Curriculum: Exploring Positive Narratives that Challenge Assumptions, Empower Learners and Inspire Unity (Professional Learning Blog - Professional Learning -Education Scotland)
- Young Person’s Perspective – Creating an inclusive and safe environment for everyone (Professional Learning Blog - Professional Learning - Education Scotland)
- Teaching Slavery in Scotland Project (SATH)
Diversifying the teaching profession and education workforce
We will identify and commit to maximising the actions that are outlined in the Teaching in a Diverse Scotland reports – in order to meet the target that by 2030, at least 4 per cent of teachers identify as coming from a Black or minority ethnic background. These will be built upon the approaches developed in actions 1-5 above in order that teachers feel safe, supported, valued and a sense of belonging (anti-racist principle 1).
Consideration should be given to educator agency, career progression and leadership opportunities. Approaches such as positive action, sponsoring and the Scottish Government’s Anti-Racist Employment Strategy can support this.