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NASUWT sponsors London Schools and the Black Child Conference in Birmingham

NASUWT sponsors London Schools and the Black Child Conference in Birmingham

The NASUWT, the largest teachers union, has joined forces with MP and race equality campaigner Diane Abbott to bring her annual London Schools and the Black Child (LSBC) Conference for the first time to Birmingham.

The NASUWT is the main sponsor of the event, which takes place this Saturday (8 March) at the Centre for Research in Race and Education at the University of Birmingham, the only centre of its kind in Europe.

The Conference, British Schools & the Black Child: New Conversations, will bring together hundreds of pupils, parents, teachers, academics and community activists to debate the challenge of education inequality for black children in the UK. It is the first time since the Conference’s inception ten years ago that it has been held outside London.

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, who will be addressing the Conference, said:

“We are delighted to have enabled the LSBC to come to Birmingham, a city where many of the same challenges and complexities as in London exist in overcoming the barriers for black children in education.

“The issues to be considered at the Conference are critically important at a time when the Coalition Government has presided over a number of corrosive measures which have enabled racism, discrimination and harassment of black and minority ethnic pupils and teachers to flourish.

“The fight for equality in schools is one of the most pressing issues we face.

“The NASUWT has campaigned tirelessly for these issues to be addressed. The union is proud to sponsor such a prestigious event and provide the voice for the teaching profession on this important platform.”

Diane Abbott MP, said:

“The conversation about education in this country has become more ‘colourblind’ than ever, but there are still myriad challenges facing black children in schools. We need to create a new narrative to ensure that black children, parents and educators are not left behind. It is important that all sections of the community are proactive in moving this issue up the public agenda.

“With LSBC extending its programme across the country it is fitting that our first major event outside of London is held in the West Midlands, home to Britain’s second largest black community”.

 


 


Notes to editors:


For over a decade the LSBC initiative has researched, organised and campaigned to improve the quality of education that black students receive.

This Conference will focus on a number of key issues affecting black children in schools, higher and further education, and will include a programme of distinguished speakers with a great deal of experience working in teaching and policy.

Speakers will include Maggie Aderin-Pocock, space scientist and research fellow at University College London; Rosemary Campbell-Stephens, visiting fellow at the Institute of Education;  and Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT.

Lena Davies
Press and Media Officer
NASUWT
0121 457 6250 / 07867 392746
lena.davies@mail.nasuwt.org.uk