Bushey Primary Education Federation

Anti- Racist Statement 

Our Expectations:

At Bushey Primary Education Federation we are committed to creating an equitable environment, where all cultures and identities are recognised and feel empowered to explore and express what matters to them. Through an anti-racist approach, we work with our staff, parents and children to ensure our provision responds to the diverse needs of our learners and their communities. 

Both of our Bushey Federation Schools are committed to providing a caring, friendly, and safe environment for all of our pupils so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Racism of any kind is unacceptable in our schools and we will tackle all forms of racism, prejudice, harassment and discrimination. 

Within both our schools we want:

• ALL children and staff to feel safe to learn, play or be with others.
• ALL children, staff, parents, carers and visitors to be treated fairly, with respect and dignity.

We will not accept any form of racist behaviour or harassment whether the individual meant to be racist or not. In line with our approach to behaviour, we will work to teach children who have made racist comments, statements or opinions about the impact of their words and endeavour to shift their viewpoint and understanding.

Racist behaviour or harassment is any unpleasant or bad behaviour against others because of their skin colour, religion, language or cultural background.  Different types of harassment or behaviour are:

• Physical: hitting, kicking, spitting taking or damaging belongings and threats of violence.
• Verbal or visual: name calling, insults, teasing, making fun or jokes about … (including graffiti, leaflets, magazines, comics, book badges)
• Indirect: excluding (leaving out on purpose), humiliating, spreading nasty rumours, laughing at………

We want children and adults to tell us if they have a problem with racist behaviour and what they say, will be taken seriously.  We will try to make sure that those who deal with the problem understand and take care in handling the issues.

Our Aims:

All children will know that if they are racist to, or racially harass, someone in school, we will deal with this seriously. Our aim is to support all our children in understanding their own rights and the rights of others; showing tolerance and celebrating diversity in society, whilst coming to an understanding of the consequences of racism and developing an inherent desire to challenge it

Most importantly we want our children to be role models in tandem with our parents and families.

The best way to reduce children’s prejudices is to model an inclusive home, demonstrating that you have friends of all backgrounds and being aware of your own use of language at home. Gently challenge your children, teach them about fairness and the benefits of living in a diverse community.

If the school are asking you to teach and talk about racism with your child, do not stand in opposition to the school or that message.  There is no judgement of your child or family, just a desire to help all our children understand the power of a misplaced word and how racist words, thoughts and attitudes can rear their head for all of us, particularly if we don't constantly seek to understand how those words land for others and challenge ourselves to both do better and be better. 

Our Context:

We are an increasingly racially diverse school community, with a rich range of languages, cultural backgrounds, ethnicities and faiths within our settings.  

Staff Professional Development:

We are dedicated to improving the racial literacy of our staff through discussion and recognition of racial inequalities. In turn, our staff have the awareness and confidence to explore race within the classroom; challenge racial inequalities, assumptions and racism.

In the school year 2023 to 2024, anti-racist professional development we have offered our staff include:

• Understanding of Diversity, Equity & Belonging training - delivered by Hannah Wilson and her company ‘DiverseEd’
• Anti - Racism Training, encompassing Unconscious Bias Training (to be held in May 2024 led by Krystal Rubie).
• School Participation in the HfL - Great Representations Project (A range of trainers and researchers) 
• Development of RE curriculum, to better focus on the celebration and understanding of other faiths in line with NATRE guidance, updated this year (Training led by Shammi Rahman from HfL) 
• All teaching provided with copies of “Black and British,” by David Olusoga to enhance their understanding of Black British History and which has been used by History Leader for curriculum development work
• All curriculum areas reviewed in school year 2023/24 to ensure better representation in the artists, scientists, countries, historical events, historical perspectives and this work will be ongoing in school year 2024/25

Parental Involvement:

We seek to actively engage our parents and carers in our anti-racist approach, through listening and valuing their insight into how our school can promote racial-literacy and anti-racism. We also provide information to our parents to ensure the work we are doing in the classroom is continued at home, so our children are confident advocates of tolerance, empathy and racial-equality.

Our Curriculum:

Our curriculum  explores the themes of identity, belonging, diversity and social justice, helping to prepare our children for their future, by creating a strong set of values, which will enable them to reflect and make positive choices with confidence and strength in the world in which they live.

What we offer our children:

• Classroom practice that promotes equality; celebrates diversity and values all voices.
• Reading corners with diverse texts to reflect our children’s realities, as well as teach them about experiences and perspectives which differ from their own.
• A diverse reading curriculum with relevant texts that challenge stereotypes and social inequality.
• A curriculum that ensures children are debating topical issues, whilst developing their spoken communication and ability to articulate themselves (focused vocabulary work  – a crucial skill to ensure all children, regardless of their background, have the best opportunities later in life).
• A PHSE curriculum which is relevant and representative of our school community.
• A Black History Month celebration which ties in with National programmes and initiatives for anti-racism and which builds on our children’s understanding of Africa and The Caribbean’s history and how it has shaped both locations, as well as Britain today.
• A curriculum that at all times in the school year, outside Black History Month, develops themes of equality and anti-racism by showcasing Black brilliance through units on role models, the positive impact of immigration  and the importance of activism for being generators of change in your community.
• Learning about inspirational scientists, artists and leaders from a range of backgrounds, races and cultures.