Anti-racism training in Wales to boost ethnically diverse teachers

Anti-racism training is being given to teachers in Wales as students have spoken out about their experiences of racial bullying and feeling isolated in schools.

Wales is the first British nation to make the history of Britain’s colonial past compulsory in schools.

Figures show that 35 teachers identify as Black and 75 as Asian and 26,600 as White in Welsh schools.

Education Secretary Jeremy Miles said more needs to be done to attract an ethnically diverse range of teachers.

Pupils speaking to BBC Wales described their experiences of racial bullying, with one saying he wanted “everyone to feel safe” and hoped the training would help.

“I experienced racism at school,” said Ifan, a pupil of Ysgol Glantaf in Cardiff.

“I think it’s still going in the younger years. I think it’s more a lack of education than cruelty.

“If we can train the teachers and the younger students, it will be less – I think it will make a big difference.”

Schoolmate Gwen believes the community in Wales can feel like a “fairly white place”, adding: “If you’re a non-white person in the community you can feel quite alone or different.

“Raising awareness of the issues that people like us face in the community is something really important, especially in schools.”

“Today there are only seven black or brown school principals in Wales. That’s not good enough,” said Deputy Principal Rachel Clarke.

It has been 50 years since her grandmother Betty Campbell became Wales’ first black headteacher at Mount Stuart Primary School in Butetown, Cardiff, and she believes not enough progress has been made since then.

She believes her grandma would find the change “wonderful,” but added, “It should have happened a long time ago.”

Teachers now have access to a new resource called Diversity and Antiracist Professional Learning, developed by academic Chantelle Haughton, a former student of Betty Campbell.

The Cardiff Metropolitan University lecturer described it as “groundbreaking” but added: “It’s really disturbing that we’re still having this conversation in 2022”.

Training started at Llanwern High School in Newport, which has its own diversity club and was the inaugural Betty Campbell MBE Award winner.

“Growing up I was bullied, people made racist comments, called me the P-word, told me to go back to my own country. We just want to create a safe environment,” said Navid, a student at the school.

Another student, Alex, has also experienced racism and said he just wanted “everyone to feel safe here”.

“When I was younger, since I was obviously not white, some students would make nasty comments for no reason. I just want to raise awareness among young students so they can feel more comfortable with who they are,” he said.

Learning about the history and experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic people is now a mandatory part of Wales’ new curriculum, billed as the biggest reform of Welsh education in decades.

The new curriculum is based on six “areas of learning and experience” and does not specify exactly what schools should teach.

However, the changes now mean that all areas of learning must reflect the diverse experiences and contributions of communities and individuals, both past and present in Wales.

Education Secretary Jeremy Miles said: “I don’t think anyone would believe enough has been done up to this point.

“I absolutely accept the challenge that there is still a lot more to do, we have a very clear plan for that, it’s underway. Unfortunately, it will take some time for that to be the case.”

Nearly 35,000 people called for racism and the contributions of Black, Asian and ethnic minorities to be taught in schools.

Global protests followed the death of George Floyd in US police custody in 2020.

The Welsh Government also announced a plan to make Wales an anti-racist nation by 2030.

To achieve this, Mr. Miles added: “Our education system must increase students’ understanding and knowledge of the diverse cultures that have shaped our past and present.”