Lincolnshire school denied top rating for being 'Too White'

User removed 4 · Nov 20, 2014

Absolutely unbelievable, just waiting for the usual apologists to come out with their excuses and 'storm in a teacup' arguments, no wonder UKIP are gaining a lot more support.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/educatio...arked-down-by-Ofsted-for-being-too-white.html

brakespear · Nov 20, 2014

I'm pretty sure that's not what the OFSTED report said at all.

Goldstone1976 · Nov 20, 2014

If you read beyond the headline, you get this from the actual report:

"The report said: "The large majority of pupils are white British. Very few are from other ethnic groups, and currently no pupils speak English as an additional language. The school needs to extend pupils' understanding of the cultural diversity of modern British Society by creating opportunities for them to have first-hand interaction with their counterparts from different backgrounds beyond the immediate vicinity.”"

Which doesn't seem unreasonable, imo. Many of the pupils will live and work in areas of the country where there are more ethnic minorities than reside in the area that their parents have chosen to live in. It's not a bad idea to give them a little exposure to other cultures. If not, the risk is that they'll become racist bigots, which would surely be a dereliction of duty by the school. The report captures this by saying “All schools must teach pupils about fundamental British values including mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. That way they will be prepared for the future wherever they go.”

The school has responded by saying "school trips usually involved visits to the countryside, taking in farms and zoos, but it had recently focused on outings to a mosque and factory."

Seems pretty sensible to me, tbh.

Pavilionaire · Nov 20, 2014

It's important to be clear about this. The "Outstanding" rating was denied partly because OFSTED said the school occasionally failed to set the kids difficult work and staff weren't given enough opportunities to develop their skills. Therefore, if the rating was merely "Good" rather than "Outstanding" for these reasons alone nobody outside Market Rasen would be in the slightest bit bothered.

This story was being discussed last night on Sky News and Jacqui Smith pointed out that the school could do more trips to mosques etc. Well it turns out the school have already done that so it's difficult to see what more they could have done. Maybe they should invite the only non-white man in town to stand in front of the 100+ pupils to explain how multi-culturalism is normal in Lincolnshire?

seagullsovergrimsby · Nov 20, 2014

It's in a rural part of Lincolnshire where the only adults with brown faces you'll encounter are in a GP surgery or a restaurant , down the road in Market Rasen.

Lord Bracknell · Nov 20, 2014

When my kids were little and attending a small rural Church of England primary school, the head teacher and her colleagues were very conscious of the fact that their pupils were missing out on the full range of cultural experiences that pupils in larger schools were benefiting from.

They did something about this - including setting up a "twinning" arrangement with a primary school in south London, that had pupils and teachers getting into exchange visits that everyone agreed were worthwhile.

This was at a time, of course, when multiculturalism was considered exciting, rather than frightening.

BigGully · Nov 20, 2014

Goldstone1976 said:
If you read beyond the headline, you get this from the actual report:

"The report said: "The large majority of pupils are white British. Very few are from other ethnic groups, and currently no pupils speak English as an additional language. The school needs to extend pupils' understanding of the cultural diversity of modern British Society by creating opportunities for them to have first-hand interaction with their counterparts from different backgrounds beyond the immediate vicinity.”"

Which doesn't seem unreasonable, imo. Many of the pupils will live and work in areas of the country where there are more ethnic minorities than reside in the area that their parents have chosen to live in. It's not a bad idea to give them a little exposure to other cultures. If not, the risk is that they'll become racist bigots, which would surely be a dereliction of duty by the school. The report captures this by saying “All schools must teach pupils about fundamental British values including mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. That way they will be prepared for the future wherever they go.”

The school has responded by saying "school trips usually involved visits to the countryside, taking in farms and zoos, but it had recently focused on outings to a mosque and factory."

Seems pretty sensible to me, tbh.

Where, how and what kind of 'exposure' would actually offer an insight to any other culture in half a days visit, somewhere ??

Experiencing snapshots of a Mosque, Synagogue or ancient Church doesnt necessarily deliver the life changing experience that you say would somehow enhance their future prospects.

Why not continue teaching them tolerance, good manners and courtesy, universally this has offered acceptance from whatever ethnic or cultural background I have ever encountered.

User removed 4 · Nov 20, 2014

Goldstone1976 said:
If you read beyond the headline, you get this from the actual report:

"The report said: "The large majority of pupils are white British. Very few are from other ethnic groups, and currently no pupils speak English as an additional language. The school needs to extend pupils' understanding of the cultural diversity of modern British Society by creating opportunities for them to have first-hand interaction with their counterparts from different backgrounds beyond the immediate vicinity.”"

Which doesn't seem unreasonable, imo. Many of the pupils will live and work in areas of the country where there are more ethnic minorities than reside in the area that their parents have chosen to live in. It's not a bad idea to give them a little exposure to other cultures. If not, the risk is that they'll become racist bigots, which would surely be a dereliction of duty by the school. The report captures this by saying “All schools must teach pupils about fundamental British values including mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. That way they will be prepared for the future wherever they go.”

The school has responded by saying "school trips usually involved visits to the countryside, taking in farms and zoos, but it had recently focused on outings to a mosque and factory."

Seems pretty sensible to me, tbh.

father_and_son · Nov 20, 2014

"Shameful journalism by sensationalist incompetents at Telegraph" should be the headline...

The education watchdog faced a backlash from MPs and parents following the decision to penalise Middle Rasen primary in Lincolnshire for not having enough black or Asian pupils.

In a report, inspectors said the school was “not yet outstanding” because pupils’ cultural development was limited by a “lack of first-hand experience of the diverse make up of modern British society”.

The first sentence BLATANTLY does not follow on from the second.

The school are failing to teach the children in their care about other cultures. This task is relatively easy in an inner city school with a diverse pupil profile, but in a village which is 97% white, the teachers actually have to put some effort in to ensuring this aspect of teaching is covered. According to Ofsted they haven't.
Hence the school being marked down.

Goldstone1976 · Nov 20, 2014

BigGully said:
Where, how and what kind of 'exposure' would actually offer an insight to any other culture in half a days visit, somewhere ??

Experiencing snapshots of a Mosque, Synagogue or ancient Church doesnt necessarily deliver the life changing experience that you say would somehow enhance their future prospects.

Why not continue teaching them tolerance, good manners and courtesy, universally this has offered acceptance from whatever ethnic or cultural background I have ever encountered.

A single half day exposure won't deliver a Eureka moment, for sure. But it's better than nothing. Besides, they might get more than one trip. Also, elsewhere in the piece, they say that the school are trying set up a partnership with an inner city school. These things should add to the likelihood that the kids will turn out to be balanced, reasonable adults. They do not replace the things that you suggest, and with which I agree; they should be additive to those things.

seagullsovergrimsby · Nov 20, 2014

My two sons went to a secondary school in Caistor which is halfway between Grimsby and Market Rasen. All the schools in the area at the time were manipulating the Ofsted figures because any kids with special needs were "bussed" to a single school in Market Rasen for children with learning difficulties.

User removed 4 · Nov 20, 2014

father_and_son said:
"Shameful journalism by sensationalist incompetents at Telegraph" should be the headline...

The education watchdog faced a backlash from MPs and parents following the decision to penalise Middle Rasen primary in Lincolnshire for not having enough black or Asian pupils.

In a report, inspectors said the school was “not yet outstanding” because pupils’ cultural development was limited by a “lack of first-hand experience of the diverse make up of modern British society”.

The first sentence BLATANTLY does not follow on from the second.

The school are failing to teach the children in their care about other cultures. This task is relatively easy in an inner city school with a diverse pupil profile, but in a village which is 97% white, the teachers actually have to put some effort in to ensuring this aspect of teaching is covered. According to Ofsted they haven't.
Hence the school being marked down.

They shouldn't have to , how about other 'cultures' get taught how to fit in with the prevailing judeo/christian culture and if they can't , then f**k off somewhere they do.

brightn'ove · Nov 20, 2014

father_and_son said:
"Shameful journalism by sensationalist incompetents at Telegraph" should be the headline...

The education watchdog faced a backlash from MPs and parents following the decision to penalise Middle Rasen primary in Lincolnshire for not having enough black or Asian pupils.

In a report, inspectors said the school was “not yet outstanding” because pupils’ cultural development was limited by a “lack of first-hand experience of the diverse make up of modern British society”.

The first sentence BLATANTLY does not follow on from the second.

The school are failing to teach the children in their care about other cultures. This task is relatively easy in an inner city school with a diverse pupil profile, but in a village which is 97% white, the teachers actually have to put some effort in to ensuring this aspect of teaching is covered. According to Ofsted they haven't.
Hence the school being marked down.

That's what I read into it too. Unfortunately, easily-outraged (stupid) people rarely read beyond the headline.

BigGully · Nov 20, 2014

Goldstone1976 said:
A single half day exposure won't deliver a Eureka moment, for sure. But it's better than nothing. Besides, they might get more than one trip. Also, elsewhere in the piece, they say that the school are trying set up a partnership with an inner city school. These things should add to the likelihood that the kids will turn out to be balanced, reasonable adults. They do not replace the things that you suggest, and with which I agree; they should be additive to those things.

If as you concede it will not deliver the' Eureka Moment', whatever that might be, then why posture and include it in a very serious report on that school's provision of education.

Lord Bracknell · Nov 20, 2014

If bushy can't see that it's the needs of the village pupils to broaden their experiences (and not the needs of the "newcomers") that are at the heart of the matter, then he obviously has NO experience of life in rural England.

Guinness Boy · Nov 20, 2014

This is bubbling along nicely. Bushy getting the wrong end of the stick from the right wing press and quote from a Tory claiming it's all

political correctness gone mad.

The follow up “Multiculturalism is an irrelevance in Lincolnshire with its low number of ethnic minorities" is brilliant. It seems like only last week we were being told no one could get a job on a farm any more because the Romanians and Bulgarians were all doing it for £1.20 an hour and all the turnips the thieving little rats could reasonably stuff in to their trousers.

Herr Tubthumper · Nov 20, 2014

To be fair, I mark Switzerland down for being too white.

seagullsovergrimsby · Nov 20, 2014

father_and_son said:
The school are failing to teach the children in their care about other cultures. This task is relatively easy in an inner city school with a diverse pupil profile, but in a village which is 97% white, the teachers actually have to put some effort in to ensuring this aspect of teaching is covered. According to Ofsted they haven't.
Hence the school being marked down.

So basically the school only needed to arrange a day trip to Scunthorpe to teach the kids about other cultures ? :facepalm:

Goldstone1976 · Nov 20, 2014

bushy said:
They shouldn't have to , how about other 'cultures' get taught how to fit in with the prevailing judeo/christian culture and if they can't , then f**k off somewhere they do.

Would that be the prevailing culture which is Anglican or Catholic; royalist or republican; socialist or capitalist; rich or less wealthy; inner city or rural; Southern or Northern; those with an IQ of 125+ or those with an IQ of <90; those who support football or those who play polo; etc.?

It is a patent nonsense to suggest, as you do, that there is one prevailing culture in the UK into which others have to fit.

Goldstone1976 · Nov 20, 2014

BigGully said:
If as you concede it will not deliver the' Eureka Moment', whatever that might be, then why posture and include it in a very serious report on that school's provision of education.

Ummm, it wasn't the report that said it! It was the Headteacher's comment replying to the report. It might help if you actually read the piece first. Just a thought.

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