BROOKHILL LEYS PRIMARY SCHOOL

MULTI-CULTURAL EDUCATION.

In considering a multi-cultural statement for our school, we first need to consider a number of issues. We are living in a multi-cultural society, that is a society composed of many overlapping groups each with its own pattern of behaviour and belief. It is important that our school statement reflects this and that it links with our school aims. Consideration must be given to the curriculum, ethos, attitudes, approaches to teaching, learning and resources.

Multi-cultural education prepares a child for life in a society composed of people from different cultural backgrounds. We have few families from minority ethnic backgrounds in school, but we acknowledge the importance of multi-cultural education and the handling of relevant issues. Our role is to help children to view the diversity of culture in a positive sense and to develop awareness and acceptance of other cultures. We need to encourage attitudes which develop self esteem for every child, the fostering of mutual respect between individuals and groups and an understanding of the values and attitudes of others.

We must be aware of pupils’ backgrounds, which will include having an understanding of different cultural and religious attitudes to disability, disasters, death, marriage and naming. Such an awareness of diverse views and expectations contributes towards creating a supportive ethos within school. We also need to be sensitive towards children who are observing religious practices and festivals.

Through the curriculum we hope to reflect a diversity of cultures in society today. We use a cross curricular approach which takes account of multi-cultural perspectives and through integrated topic work hope to develop an awareness of other cultures. We celebrate festivals and teach the children about customs from many different cultures. We also acknowledge that through the hidden curriculum children will learn about relationships, expectations, values and attitudes. We also hope to encourage in children a sense of responsibility for their actions and an understanding of the result of their actions on others. Racist incidents in school are few, but if they occur they are dealt with immediately and investigated thoroughly. Our approach to these incidents is discussed in our behaviour and discipline and equal opportunities policies.

Great importance is attached to display in school. Posters, notices, signs, children’s work, artefacts and photographs all form part of our statement about multi-cultural education and the school’s philosophy.

In terms of resources, we are aware that books, materials and equipment should reflect multi-cultural perspectives. We try to ensure that literature offered to children is non-sexist, non-racist and that it does not reflect any stereotyped images of any particular group either in the text or the illustrations. A continual and gradual replacement process of resources takes place and we hope to purchase positive, carefully chosen resources. Classrooms and the library hold a diversity of books. Teacher’s resources [books and artefacts] for multi-cultural education are kept outside the Foundation Unit in lower school, and in the resources room in Upper school.

Children in school are encouraged to care for each other, respect each other’s point of view and work together happily. A positive approach towards multi-cultural education should further enhance this philosophy.
Please see Brookhill Leys Primary School’s Equal Opportunities Statement for complimentary views to multi-cultural education.

Suzal Mehmet

Co-ordinator for Multi- Cultural Education.
February 2007.

The next date for review will be February 2010.