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Black (I mean this politically for all those who suffer racism) and/or working class children can often be under predicted their grades. This is a systematic issue rather than a case of a "few bad apples" in teaching.
Here's a thread with some thoughts:
Here's a thread with some thoughts:
1) The Exam factory, is not the answer to this. Sitting exams does not mitigate against years of ensuring an education system that institutionally discriminates against black and/or working class children. High stakes, pressurised testing must also end.
2) Teacher training has been continually attacked as has time for effective CPD. This means the space for gaining an anti-racist and classist understanding has been grossly reduced. This must be reversed.
Anti-racist and class conscious educators are the solution.
Anti-racist and class conscious educators are the solution.
3) Young people should be assessed over time. Educators are the people who know their children best and their judgement should be trusted. However, we need school to school moderation and assessment annonymised.
4) The curriculum is not fit for purpose. The decision for what is taught and how it's taught should be taken away from parliamentarians and put in the hands of schools and communities. The curriculum itself, systematically discriminates black and/or working class children.
5) We need more black and/or working class Educators. Schools and school staff need to reflect the communities they serve. This means effort must be put in by government to actively recruit black and/or working class educators.
6) We can organise for change in school. Embedding the @NEUnion antiracist Framework in school is a good starting point to change a culture as is getting together as a department team to Decolonise your curriculum. Take control and be the change.
7) Racism and class discrimination comes from the top down, not the bottom up. The discrimination young people face in education is hardwired into the system. We can only win change from the bottom up, this means our starting point has to be organising in schools and communities
8) Anti-racist, class conscious educators are the answer. I can't emphasise this enough. So let's organise, learn and grow together - but Fundementally build an education system that has social justice at its core and allows all to flourish.
