Ex-pupils trying to raise racism issue at local Catholic state school - how?

[Redstar99]

Hello

Wasn't sure where to post this. A local group of ex-pupils from BAME backgrounds who attended (over the past few years) the local state Catholic secondary school have produced a collection of really depressing stories about their time at the school and the racism they experienced. They want they school to commit to improving things for current and future pupils.

They have sent a copy of the document of their experiences to the Head. They have heard nothing back, this was a few weeks ago. They are concerned, following their experiences of trying to raise issues whilst there, that it is just going to be swept under the carpet. I appreciate schools are under lots of CV-19 pressure, but their instinct is they aren't going to reply.

They aren't looking to damage the school's reputation, but I am not sure if the school is going to address this, so wonder if they will have to get publicly vocal.

I wondered if anyone has any ideas as to what is next. They could contact the governors but that goes through the school. There is a governor who is a person of colour (it isn't easy to find them all online) but they might not be that comfortable raising if they are in a minority.

The school is highly sought after, being one of the only Catholic high schools near here, so I do wonder if there is an issue with all families feeling like they have won the Catholic lottery getting in and not wanting to "rock the boat".

The group initially publicised their dossier online and shared it on FB groups and the platform they chose to use, pulled it down as there were "too many complaints". I did wonder if current parents at the school, had seen it and used the "report content" button on the platform....

I am a local mum that saw them post on a FB group and just wanted to try to be a good ally and help them, but I don't have lots of experience in this sort of thing....

So, what next. Try going up the school/church governance chain? Start a social media channel? Try to get some sort of press coverage?

Any thoughts gratefully received...

I think the governors and the church associated with the school. Were their experiences when the current Head was in post?

They want they school to commit to improving things for current and future pupils

Do they? Or are they just looking for their pound of flesh. Running straight to the media smacks of a desire to shame the school rather than a desire to effect change. Which is it?

I agree with the pp about writing to the governors. That is the sensible and mature approach. Not Facebook.

Thanks for the replies.

@nosswith - same HT, has been there years...

@TheNewLook - As a group of young people I am not sure they have the experience/knowledge to know what the best route is, hence getting involved. Not that I do either (!) but I think they need a strategy.

Will encourage the governor route and see if the school responds.

a few weeks ago would either have been right at the end of term, over the summer holidays, or at the start of this term.

Given the CV19 stuff going on, and the GCSE / A level results debacle, in the time of a HT this really hasn't been long.

However if they haven't even had an acknowledgement yet it's not good.

I would

• resend and copy chair of governors stating when it was first sent, the lack of reply, a request for a meeting, and a 'please respond by' date of ~end October.
• if no reply by then, then phone up school to check what is happening
• only then consider escalating outside the school

It is important, yes, but not necessarily urgent given the pandemic.