London Schools and the Black Child V

Saturday 8 December 2007, 9am - 5.30pm
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

London Schools and the Black Child is a conference focussing on continuing inequalities in educational attainment experienced by children of African and Caribbean heritage.

The conference was opened by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. Speakers included Lord Andrew Adonis, Minister for Schools and Learners - Department for Children, Schools and Families, Diane Abbott MP, government speakers and special guests from the worlds of education and the media. Information about seminar themes.

Background

In the five years since the first London Schools and the Black Child Conference in 2002, the tide has begun to turn for African-Caribbean heritage children in London’s schools. At last, there are indications that the achievement gap is narrowing and that black children are making progress. More black teachers are being recruited, helping London’s teaching workforce to look more like the communities they are there to serve, while more resources than ever before are being allocated to raising African-Caribbean achievement in our schools.

However there is still much to do. It is still the case that black boys are more likely to be excluded from school than their peers, while studies continue to highlight the disproportionate adverse treatment given to black children in the education system from pre-school assessment through to the crucial secondary years.

Since 2002 over 7,500 parents, students and teachers have attended London Schools and the Black Child. Government, trade unions, educational agencies, community organisations, supplementary schools, academics and others have also supported these events, sharing knowledge and developing strategies to make change a reality.

Reports on earlier London Schools and the Black Child conferences are available from the education publications page.

London Schools and the Black Child V

Background

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