Picture caption: "Pupils from Harehills Primary School choir entertaining the guests at the Stephen Lawrence Education Awards ceremony."Pupils in Leeds were praised for their commitment to race equality at a celebration event last week.
Pupils and staff from 45 Leeds schools and six children’s centres were awarded for their commitment to the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard at an inspirational event at Leeds Civic Hall.
The awards ceremony is an annual celebration event for schools and children's centres that have achieved the standard which promotes race equality. To date, 180 schools and 10 children’s centres in Leeds have achieved the Standard.
Certificates were presented to schools and children’s centres achieving Levels 1, 2 or 3 this year. To achieve the award, schools and early years centres have to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and evidence of promoting inclusion and race equality to help transform education.
The programme for the ceremony will give children and young people an opportunity to share their learning and understanding of being responsible global citizens. Pupils from Harehills Primary, Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School and Stanningley Primary will entertain over two hundred guests attending the ceremony.
Councillor Judith Blake, executive member responsible for children’s services at Leeds City Council said: “In Leeds we have a proud tradition of celebrating cultural diversity and the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard is an excellent way to broaden young people’s horizons and embed a culture of equality in our schools and communities.
“Our aim to be a Child Friendly City can only be achieved if our young people understand the importance of race equality, not only in schools, but in all walks of life. The standard encourages our children and young people to treat everybody equally regardless of their race, beliefs or religion.”
The Standard was developed in partnership between the former Education Leeds, Leeds City Council and black and minority community representatives, in response to the tragic murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 and the publication of the Macpherson Inquiry Report into his death six years later. In 2010 the programme was launched nationally and is now available to schools across the country.
Developed in 2003, the standard is awarded to schools, early years centres and colleges which demonstrate knowledge, understanding and evidence of promoting inclusion and race equality to help transform education. Around 77 per cent of Leeds’ 263 schools have already achieved the award, with many more working towards it.
The programme provides a powerful framework and programme for schools to work in partnership to enrich and improve the learning experience of children, young people and adults.
Notes to editors:The 45 schools and 6 Children’s Centres which received the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard are:
Level 1
Armley Moor Children's Centre; Castleton Children's Centre; Harehills Children's Centre; Meadowfield Children's Centre; Meanwood Children's Centre; Richmond Hill Children's Centre; Adel Primary School; Adel St John The Baptist Church of England Primary School; Alwoodley Primary School; Armley Primary School; Ashfield Primary School; Beeston Primary School; Boston Spa School; Calverley Parkside Primary School; Castleton Primary School; Christ Church Upper Armley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School; Cookridge Primary School; Cross Flatts Park Primary School; Farnley Park Maths & Computing College; Hollybush Primary School; Horsforth Newlaithes Junior School; Lawns Park Primary School; Ninelands Primary School; Oakwood Primary School; Rothwell Victoria Junior School; Ryecroft Primary School; Seacroft Grange Primary School; St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School; St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Otley; St Margaret's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School; St Mary's Church of England Controlled Primary School, Boston Spa; St Patrick's Catholic Primary School; Swarcliffe Primary School; Whingate Primary School;
Level 2
Five Lanes Primary School; Rothwell Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School; St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Horsforth; St Theresa's Catholic Primary School; Weetwood Primary School; Westgate Primary School; White Laith Primary School;
Level 3
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School; Harehills Primary School; Ireland Wood Primary School; Moortown Primary School; Priesthorpe Sports Specialist College;
St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, Beeston; Stanningley Primary School;
Bronze Level (Level 3 revalidation)
East SILC John Jamieson School & Technology College; Hovingham Primary School School; St Bartholomew's CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School;
The 12 criteria of the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard are:
1. A whole school approach.
2. School self-evaluation.
3. A written race equality policy.
4. Written anti-racist and anti-bullying policies, with clear procedures to deal with racial harassment and bullying.
5. An effective approach to monitoring and responding to racist incidents.
6. An inclusive policy on the procedures for pupil admissions, assessment and transfer.
7. A written policy for involving parents, carers and the community in working with and supporting the school.
8. An inclusive curriculum which positively reflects a culturally and religiously diverse society, promotes race equality, and prepares pupils to become responsible citizens.
9. An effective monitoring process of black and minority ethnic pupils, particularly to academic attainment and exclusions. Target should be set for improvement for all groups of children.
10. The effective monitoring of staff recruitment, staff development and governors appointments, with targets for recruitment from ethnic minority groups.
11. Mandatory anti-racist training for all staff and governors.
12. All policies should be linked to an action plan.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
Emma Whittell, Leeds City Council press office, on (0113) 2474713
Email: emma.whittell@leeds.gov.uk
