Notes on Ethnic Information - Ethnic.TXT

Ethnic monitoring and data collection are fundamental for providing the means for schools to analyse the impact of their policies and procedures on all pupils. Understanding the ethnic and cultural background of their pupils will enable a school to ensure accurate monitoring of attainment and targeting of resources in order to ensure all children and young people fulfil their potential and have equality of opportunity. Information on the first language will raise awareness of the potential needs of the child or young person as having English as an Additional Language.

Understanding of a child or young person’s cultural and educational background will enhance the school’s ability to personalise learning and to understand the possible barriers to achievement that may need to be overcome. It will also enable the school to establish strategies to raise standards and to comply with equal opportunities legislation and with the Race Relations Amendment Act (2002).

A curriculum which reflects the diversity within a school can have a positive impact on the attendance and achievement of individual pupils and on community cohesion within the school community and beyond. Failure to collect this data and under-reporting in these fields will adversely affect the financial resources available to support the additional needs of Minority Ethnic pupils and pupils with EAL

Seeking information from parents

The collection of ethnic data can be a sensitive issue for some parents. Parents who have experienced racism and prejudice may feel reluctant to identify their ethnicity.

Schools should only gather information on a pupil’s ethnic background after parents have received confirmation of their child’s place at the school. For new entrants to primary schools, this data should be requested prior to the child being admitted to the school, which for most pupils will be when they are about to enter nursery or reception. Whilst secondary schools should receive data on a pupil’s ethnicity from their feeder primary school, it is recognised that many schools will continue to request this data from parents prior to admission as part of their general data collection exercise. For pupils transferring from an independent school or a school outside England, the data will need to be requested on admission.

Collection of ethnic background data on new pupils

Data should be collected on first entry to a UK mainstream school.

Failure to obtain this information should be recorded by choosing “Not Obtained” from the drop-down list, and every effort should be made to gather the information in the future.

Any parent or pupil has the right to refuse to provide this information. If a parent or pupil actively refuse, schools must not record an ethnic background (record as ‘Refused’). Parents may need reassurance as to the purpose of the data and who will have access to it.

Those with parental responsibility should determine the ethnic background for children at primary school. Pupils aged 11-15 can determine their own ethnicity but this is best made with the support and knowledge of their parent/carer(s). Pupils aged 16 + should make their own decisions.

Care should be taken to ensure that families are supported sensitively in making an appropriate declaration and that the correct ethnicity is recorded

The Pupils Ethnic Monitoring Questionnaire. http://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/Finance-Assessment/datacollection

The school should print the appropriate number of forms as required. It is recommended that the pupil’s name be written on the translated questionnaires before they are given to the parents/guardians of a pupil.

Please see www.standards.DFE.gov.uk/ethnicminorities for more information.