Black Lives Matter & Race Equality in Education Forum

Merton aims to:

• Close the gaps for pupils across different ethnicities in Merton;
• Ensure we listen to our young people, families and their communities about lived experiences;
  Learn more about how the education system within Merton can address racism and the Black Lives Matter agenda;
• Address the under-representation of Black culture and history within the curriculum;
• Increase the proportion of Black and Minority Ethnic groups represented within the teaching and leadership population in Merton schools;
• Address the trauma experienced by our pupils as a result of overt and covert racism.

We need to acknowledge and address issues which affect children and young people’s sense of self-worth, aspiration and life chances, factors such as:

• Low representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups among leaders, teachers and governors
• Lack of understanding of cultural diversity and representation in the currriculum
• The impact of being in a minority in a white majority school
• Limited or negative representations of BAME groups in school and the curriculum
• Unconscious bias

This forum allows for:

• Reflecting on and sharing curriculum development and initiatives
• opportunities for the involvement of children and young people on curriculum development and teaching approaches
• pupil participation and pupil voice in school and council democratic processes and strategic leadership

All Merton school staff and governors are welcome to attend this session. Please note that only those named on the register will be permitted entry due to the security restrictions at the venue. Please ensure the delegate attending is booked on in their name. Any queries contact cpd@merton.gov.uk