BLACK AND MINORITY ETHNIC LEADERS
Lighting fires
“Education is simply the
soul of a society as it
Overcoming prejudices
passes from one generation
to another.”
Gilbert K Chesterton
“Education is the ability
to listen to almost
Programme. The programme represents the biggest While she was studying, there were not really any only aspire to headship, but also, crucially, stay in the
anything without losing
single investment in youth workforce development courses or support structures in place to deal with racial role and help others to fulfil their potential.”
your temper or your self-
and more than 5,000 service leaders and frontline issues, according to Ms Grant. “The one or two tutors Baldev Singh has been in education since 1997.
managers will receive training in the three-year who did address them were looked on as loony lefties,” Born in Kenya, his father was a deputy head there and
confidence.”
programme, which started in March. she laughed. so education was the most natural thing in the world for
But educational coach Viv Grant believes the Then she went on to teach in Lambeth: “I became a him to move into.
Robert Frost
main problem could be one of confidence among the headteacher at a very young age (32),” she continued, After working as a cancer researcher, he trained in
BME community. “but in the process I encountered teachers who felt Bristol at the University of the West of England and
“Education is the key to
She runs Integrity Coaching, a London-based uncomfortable about being managed by a Black woman started work in Newport in a predominantly White,
coaching company for BME professionals working and sometimes in subtle and not-so-subtle ways tried to working-class area. Despite the fact it was a very White unlock the golden door of
across the children’s workforce. Ms Grant set up undermine my authority. area, Mr Singh said he never felt there were any barriers
the company in 2006 to provide team, management, “It was difficult managing the perceptions of others associated with his race.
freedom.”
leadership and performance coaching services to and there would be people coming into the school Mr Singh agrees that many problems faced by BME
George Washington Carver
maximise the performance of managers and leaders asking to see the headteacher, even though I had been teachers are to do with confidence. “I have mentored
in the public and private sectors. introduced to them and would be standing right in front PGCE students,” he said, “and I remember one girl
The coaching is based on the principle that in of them. who had come straight from India and straight out of “Education is the
order for adults to be effective in the workplace, they “There are issues which prevent BME teachers from university. Her accent was pretty strong and the kids
need to be given the opportunity and support to reach moving forward,” Ms Grant said. “We don’t change the noticed this.”
transmission of civilization.”
their full potential. barriers but we give teachers the tools through coaching However, despite this, Mr Singh believes that the
Will Durant
Integrity Coaching has successfully provided to take responsibility themselves and put in the right main problem was confidence. “There were probably
coaching services for BME teachers and school and necessary processes.” White teachers straight from university having the same
leaders in Islington, Westminster and Hackney. She added: “I am not saying there aren’t issues problems,” he said. “Schools need to be careful about “Education is what
The company has plans to extend its services in which need to change, but we’re about helping the having support systems in place.”
2009, so that BME teachers in all of the London individual change it themselves.” The real issue, he believes, is the paucity of role
survives when what has
Boroughs can access their services as part of local But Ms Grant still believes there are wider issues models for BME teachers.
authority succession planning strategies for BME which prevent BME teachers getting leadership “We lack the representation. You see lots of
been learned has been
teachers and school leaders. positions. campaigns and you see posters with Black teachers on,
forgotten.”
Jamaican in origin, Ms Grant herself trained as a “I still think the support isn’t there for people in but I really believe there needs to be more engagement
teacher in the 1980s. She explained: “I was told I was these positions,” she added. with local communities and temples. We need more
BF Skinner
aiming too high to even train as a nursery nurse. “Government bodies tend to recruit in their own Black senior managers and more Black people in local
“My own teacher training was a bizarre experience. image and until we get more Black and ethnic authorities and that will provide the role models to
“Education, n. That
There were only a few Black trainees on my course minorities into these places, we will have a encourage more Black and ethnic minority teachers into
in the first place and on one of my placements a little problem. There is a lot of policy out there too the profession.” SecEd
which discloses the wise
girl cried and said she didn’t want me to teach her which needs lifting off the page and this is
because I was Black. It was the most horrible thing. not happening yet.” • Hazel Davis is a freelance education journalist. and disguises from the
But, at the time, my tutor just looked at me blankly.” She continued: “As the educational
Another time, Ms Grant says she was on a school landscape currently stands this holistic
Further information foolish their lack of
placement in the staffroom and she overheard one of support is not provided for headteachers. • The NCSL: www.ncsl.org.uk
the teachers talking about how she was unhappy that Our work with BME aspiring leaders and • Teachers for the 21st Century: www.tc21.org.uk
understanding.”
she had new Black neighbours. That was back in the headteachers shows that this is a service • TeacherWorld: www.teacherworld.org.uk
Ambrose Bierce
1980s and, one hopes, things have changed somewhat that is desperately needed if we • Network for Black Professionals: www.nbm.org.uk
now, but Ms Grant added: “I grew up in Lambeth so I are to increase the number
wasn’t prepared for this sort of reaction at all.” of BME teachers who not
Headteacher's
PA of the Year
Awards 2009
An opportunity to recognise and celebrate the people
who are at the heart of a successful school
One of the most vital jobs performed in
any secondary school is that of the PA to
the headteacher. The PA is invariably the
confidante of the head and a key link with the
staffroom, the governors, parents and pupils. Good PAs are
an invaluable asset and few schools can operate efficiently or
effectively without them.
In acknowledgement of this essential and important role,
SecEd is proud to organise for the fourth year running, in
association with the DCSF International School Award,
which is managed by the British Council, the SecEd
Headteacher's PA of the Year Awards 2009, which will
celebrate the achievements and success of the modern
‘
My biggest challenge was
headteacher's PA.
Only personal assistants to the headteacher of a
eight years ago when colleagues,
secondary school, state or independent, may be
entered. Nominations will only be accepted by the
people I had considered friends,
head or deputy head. To enter, a statement
of not more than 700 words must be
wrote a letter to the governing body
written, explaining why the
nominated PA deserves
objecting to my appointment as deputy
the award.
headteacher as an example of unfair
Nominations should be
sent to Pete Henshaw by
positive discrimination
no later than October 1, 2009.
’
For information and guidance for
nominators is also available.
Email pete.h@markallengroup.com,
write to SecEd, MA Education, St. Jude's
Church, Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PB
or visit www.sec-ed.co.uk
pa 2009.indd 1 23/3/09 15:49:07
SecEd • June 11 2009 9
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