Developing a more diverse and inclusive school curriculum

We held Brighton & Hove’s second anti-racist education conference, Shifting Cultures, in April focused on diversifying the curriculum and widening the view. 

Over 140 delegates attended the conference at the Corn Exchange which featured a keynote talk from author, historian, presenter and film-maker David Olusoga. 

The event also included several workshops focusing on different aspects of curriculum development as well as a marketplace where organisations, charities and services from across the city and council could raise awareness of the support and resources available.

A school leader who attended the conference said: “It was a richly informative day. There were so many moments that were moving, inspiring, difficult, challenging and thought-provoking. I left feeling fuelled to continue this work back in my schools. 

“I really want all of my staff team to have direct access to this kind of event as it is the most powerful way of shifting people's thinking and attitudes! I am already sharing lots of my reflections with colleagues in staff meetings and creating actions going forward.”

Anti-racist education strategy

In Brighton & Hove, 27% of pupils identify as Black & Racially Minoritised, yet just 6% of the city’s teaching workforce do. In fact, most schools have few or no Black and Racially Minoritised teachers. 

Representation and shared lived experience can greatly impact students’ sense of belonging at school and in the city. 

To address the lack of representation in teaching staff and other ways racism impacts the cities children, in 2021 we launched the Brighton & Hove anti-racist education strategy.

A group of teachers were brought together to implement the strategy and Brighton & Hove now has 2 anti-racist education advisors who coordinate and lead this team. 

Since 2021, we have developed and rolled out Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education resources for primary schools that allow teachers and pupils to have age-appropriate conversations about race and racism. 

Almost all of the city’s primary schools have received foundational training in racial literacy and anti-racism. We are currently supporting our secondary schools to ensure staff are trained and we’re developing additional resources for nurseries and early years providers. 

A number of local schools run support groups for Black and Racially Minoritised pupils, alongside forums and meetings for parents and carers who identify as Black and Racially Minoritised or who have Black and Racially Minoritised children. 

We will be rolling out guidance to support schools in setting up groups for pupils and parents and carers later this year. 

Responding to racist incidents

One of the most common complaints from parents and carers is dissatisfaction with how incidents of racism are responded to. Our anti-racist education strategy recognises the need for development in this area. 

Racial literacy training has helped to give school staff a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of the impact of racial harm. While there is still much work to be done, schools are changing their approach with many schools in Brighton & Hove re-assessing their processes for reporting and responding to racist incidents. 

Growing the confidence of students, parents, and communities that their concerns will be taken seriously and increasing the capacity of education settings to respond appropriately will improve experiences for schoolchildren across Brighton & Hove.

Continuing to develop and strengthen this area of school practice in line with restorative justice and trauma-informed approaches is a priority for the next school year.

A fairer, more inclusive future

Councillor Emma Daniel, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Youth Services, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the work that has taken place following the introduction of our anti-racist education strategy. 

“Racism exists in our society and it is our shared responsibility to challenge it. Schools and educational institutions are well placed to develop a culture of openness, discussion and nuanced understanding of how ideas about race continue to manifest and cause harm.

“Any incident of racism is one too many and we encourage schools to accurately report and respond to all prejudiced-based incidents, including racism, and work to empower children and young people with the confidence to report any such incident.

“However, our efforts to embed anti-racism into schools won't happen overnight – instead, it is an ongoing journey to a fairer, more inclusive future.”