Today (Tuesday 25 May 2021), on the anniversary of the death of George Floyd, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, reflects on how policy makers cannot afford to let any more time pass before addressing racism, equality and diversity in society, saying:

“The Black Lives Matter protests that arose after the death of George Floyd have given voice to a generation of young people and individuals who are rightly frustrated by the continued oppression caused by inequality and racism. Correctly, they are demanding change. The governments of the UK, and around the world, must accept and act on this.

“For this reason, the findings of the government’s recent Sewell Report are deeply unhelpful. NAHT has heard from many members that they feel profoundly disappointed, let down and insulted by the report because it simply does not reflect the reality of their lived experiences.

“Education remains one of the best tools we have to tackle the scourge of racism and inequality in this country, set alongside a wider societal approach. But as a profession we also need to be prepared to hold a mirror up to ourselves. We know that our profession is not yet fully representative of the communities we serve, and that this is a particular issue at senior leadership level. NAHT is committed to addressing this issue head-on and is actively supporting efforts to develop diversity and inclusion within the education profession.

“It is important for all children to have positive role models from a wide range of backgrounds and ethnicities. This helps to break down stereotypes and prejudice and encourages children to broaden their horizons and ambitions and fulfil their educational potential.

"It is clear that there remains a huge amount of work to do when it comes to tackling racism and race equality in the UK. Schools need the full backing of the government in order to meet the high standards being demanded by campaigners and young people.”

Press and Media contacts:

Steven George
NAHT Head of Press and Media
01444 472886
07970 907730

Rose Tremlett 
Senior Press Officer 
07545 354363

Email : press.office@naht.org.uk