Local Government not doing enough for black teachers

January 2009 – Local authorities are not doing enough to support the career progression of black and minority ethnic (BME) teachers, resulting in a shortage of people from BME backgrounds in leadership positions, according to two reports. Currently fewer than 3% of head teachers are from BME backgrounds, and they tend to leave the profession earlier than their white counterparts.

Commissioned by the Training and Development Agency (TDA) and the London Borough of Hackney, the reports were conducted by Integrity Coaching. Both reports focussed on Diversity and Succession Planning and the key barriers and enablers to career progression for BME teachers and school leaders.

Key findings from the reports are:

· There is a need to develop initiatives that will successfully bring more BME teachers through to senior leadership positions.

· How BME teachers manage others’ perceptions of them can be a primary barrier to career progression.

· Opportunities to work shadow and bespoke coaching were identified as key enablers.

· Local Authorities are not doing enough by implementing ‘enablers’ to support the career progression of BME teachers.

· High turnover of BME head teachers can result in ambiguity and questioning of LA’s commitment to diversity and equal opportunities.

· There is a need to develop a new type of CPD (continued professional development) that addresses the personal alongside the professional needs of BME teachers.

· The impact of Race Equality policies needs to be monitored to ensure they are having a positive effect on the recruitment, selection and retention of BME teachers in the LA’s

Viv Grant, Director of Integrity Coaching, comments:

“Unfortunately BME teachers tend to face unique obstacles and isolation, which LA’s struggle to understand and address. As a result this stifles the ability of LA’s to help BME teachers progress their careers at the same rate as their white counterparts. Local Authorities must recognise that in order to make headship attractive to teachers from BME backgrounds, they need to demonstrate that they are aware of the additional challenges that they may face and that they are committed to supporting aspiring BME leaders.

“Apart from a few notable exceptions, this is a national issue, affecting the majority of Local Authorities. As Trevor Phillips has highlighted recently, the problem does not necessarily stem from overt racism, but rather from systems that fail BME teachers. Government admits to the need to advance the cause of minorities, but Local Authorities fall short when it comes to committing the required resources to attracting people from minority ethnic backgrounds into the education sector – and keeping them there.”

A third report produced by Integrity Coaching provides guidance to help Local Authorities become employers of first choice for BME professionals in the education sector. These include setting annual targets for recruitment strategies and understanding issues concerning BME recruitment, such as stereotyping.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:

For further information and copies of the reports:

Heather Baker

TopLine Communications

heatherb {at} toplinecomms(.)com

www.toplinecomms.com

0207 886 0855

About Integrity Coaching Ltd

Integrity Coaching (www.integritycoaching.co.uk) is London’s leading coaching company for black and minority ethnic (BME) professionals working across the Children’s Workforce. The organisation was set up in 2006 to provide team, management, leadership and performance coaching services to maximise the performance of managers and leaders in the public and private sectors. The coaching is based on the principle that in order for adults to be effective in the workplace they need to be given the opportunity and support to reach their full potential.

Since 2007 Integrity Coaching has successfully provided coaching services for BME teachers and school leaders in Islington, Westminster and Hackney. The company has plans to extend its services in 2009, so that BME teachers in all of the London Boroughs can access their services as part of Local Authority succession planning strategies for BME teachers and school leaders.

Integrity Coaching was founded by former head teacher Viv Grant who believes that coaching is key to helping BME teachers to reach their potential. The organisation has worked with a number of Local Education Authorities, including Camden, Hackney, Wandsworth and Haringey, as well as the DfES and training bodies such as the National College for School Leadership.

Reports

1. The barriers and enablers to career progression for BME teachers. Produced by Integrity Coaching for the TDA.

2. Diversity and succession planning: Preparing for the Future. A report on the experiences of BME middle and senior school leaders in Hackney. Produced by Integrity Coaching.

3. Guidance on positive recruitment strategies for BME teachers. Produced for the TDA by Integrity Coaching Ltd.