Hackney Council rubber-stamps ‘anti-racism’ strategy for schools amid concerns over risk of harm to vulnerable pupils

The council has pledged to further inclusion and build a “child-centred and anti-racist” model for schools. Photograph: Supplied by LDRS

Hackney Council is renewing its efforts to drive inclusion in the borough’s schools amid concerns over the risk of harm to Black and vulnerable pupils.

After consultations carried out earlier this year, on Monday (December 15) the council rubber-stamped its education strategy which pledges to further inclusion and build a “child-centred and anti-racist” model for schools.

During the consultation, which concluded in September, an NHS partnership including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) had urged the council to “be transparent about Black children and [special educational needs] pupils being disproportionately affected by exclusion”, and to avoid using “race-evasive language”.

The council’s vision for the borough’s education includes:

• A ‘diverse curriculum’ to provide a “rich and balanced” offer to the community
• More “specialised and intensive” support services to address the rising number of pupils with complex SEND
• A “resolutely anti-racist” stance as a core principle across the council’s approach to education

Since February the council has been reviewing the borough’s behaviour policies in an attempt to get to grips with the Hackney’s school exclusion rate, which has historically been higher than the rest of London. In July, local youth organisations warned the council that some schools’ behaviour rules were “damaging” children and in some cases were racist.

At Monday’s Cabinet meeting, education chief Cllr Anntoinette Bramble said the council was “absolutely committed to changing the things we know we must drive out [of schools], because our community is telling us: this is not right”.

Hugh Viney, Head of Remote Learning School Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA) said there was “much to commend” in the council’s new plan. “At its most basic level, school should be a safe place – one where children are protected, respected and free from harm,” he said.

“I’ve seen first-hand how a one-size-fits-all system can leave too many children behind, particularly those with SEND. Mainstream school plays a vital role, but it won’t work for everyone. Alternative cultures that prioritise belonging, flexibility and wellbeing must be taken seriously.”

Hugh Viney, Head of Remote Learning School Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA). Photograph: MVA

The new strategy also arrives the week after a damning safeguarding investigation into a high-performing academy school, Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy (MVPA). A child safeguarding practice review led by Hackney’s former Director of Children’s Services, found the school’s strict disciplinary culture had caused harm to vulnerable students.

The investigation stood up complaints emerging last year that shouting, public humiliation and a lack of support for pupils with SEND had taken place at the academy.

MVPA belongs to a multi-academy trust which is not under local authority control. But in the aftermath of the report, Cllr Bramble said the findings marked a “critical moment”.

“While schools have the statutory freedom to determine their curriculum and policies, including behaviour policies, this freedom must respect the Department for Education’s guidance,” she said in a statement.

When asked by the LDRS if she thought MVPA should voluntarily adopt the council’s new strategy, Cllr Bramble said “all educational settings” in the borough shared the same goal of tackling systemic barriers.

“We will continue to build our partnership with all of our schools and settings, regardless of school type, so that we can build together a stronger education offer that fully responds to the needs of our communities,” she said. “We are always keen to collaborate with all schools and federations in the borough on these crucial issues of anti-racism, equity, and inclusion.”

A Hackney Labour spokesperson meanwhile told the LDRS the MVPA situation arose because they were not subject to this policy, but also because they were only accountable to the government.

“We sadly see the effect that has had, particularly on the children,” the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the Hackney Green Party told the LDRS the education strategy lacked clarity on accountability and on what happens to children who “fall out” of education. “Without explicit action on exclusions, safeguarding and SEND identification, the same patterns of harm will continue, with families and carers left to carry the burden when the system fails,” they said.

Despite the findings of disproportionate number of sanctions given to Black and SEND pupils at MVPA, in the consultation CAMHS Alliance noted that another school belonging to the same multi-academy trust demonstrated good practice.