SUMMARY REPORT
ON THE
BLACK TEACHERS’
CONFERENCE 2014
STOKE ROCHFORD HALL
7 – 9 November 2014
REPORT SUMMARY

This year’s conference theme was: “Teacher, Activist and so much
more: Celebrating Black Teachers.”

115 delegates attended this year’s conference. This is a fifteen per cent
increase from 2012 (100 delegates) but slightly down from last year (125
delegates).

A total of 77 evaluation forms were completed. This is two-thirds (67per
cent) of the total number of delegates who attended.

More delegates completed the evaluation forms, in actual numbers and
proportionally when compared with last year. Last year only 66
evaluation forms were received. This represented a much lower
proportion of total delegates (53per cent) than this year. However, more
needs to be done to encourage all delegates to complete the evaluation
forms.

Just over one-third (26 or 34 per cent) of those who responded had not
attended the conference before. This was their first time at conference.
Although the response rates are different, this compares with two-thirds
(44 out of 66 responses) who said they had attended conference before
in 2013.

Almost all the delegates (98per cent) who completed an evaluation form
said that they had very much enjoyed or enjoyed the conference. This is
the same figure as last year.

The overwhelming majority of delegates found the conference very
useful or useful (99per cent). This is slightly up on last year (97per cent)
when taking into account a lower response rate.

Many of the delegates responded that the most popular and useful
elements of the programme were the two keynote speakers: Dr Aminul
Hoque, MBE, and Jackie Ranger.
“I enjoyed conference thoroughly. Jackie Ranger and Aminul Hoque
were very inspirational speakers, and I leave the conference
having taken a lot from listening to them.”

More than four-fifths (81per cent) of delegates who responded (52 out of
64) said that the Open Forum Debate exceeded or met fully their
expectations. This is the same as last year (81per cent) when taking into
account that 47 out of 55 delegates completed this question.
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CONFERENCE REPORT
The Black Teachers’ Conference 2014 (BTC) took place between Friday 7 to Sunday
9 November at Stoke Rochford Hall (SRH), Lincolnshire. The BTC was attended by
115 delegates from across the regions and Wales, including the President and
members of the Executive. (This figure does not include the staff conference team,
speakers or workshop leaders.) There was a 15 per cent increase in the number of
delegates attending the conference when compared with 2012 (100 delegates) but
slightly down from last year (124 delegates).
The theme of this year’s conference was: ‘Teacher, activist and so much more:
Celebrating Black Teachers’. Twenty-six of the delegates attended for the first time
and the vast majority of delegates identified themselves as Caribbean or African.
Jenny Christopher, Black Teacher’s Steering Group Member, was the Conference
Chair. Jenny opened the conference and welcomed all the delegates. She informed
delegates that the Black Teachers' Conference had been an important occasion in
the NUT's calendar since its inception in 1992. The conference plays an integral role
in ensuring that the NUT’s work is in the interests of its Black members and all Black
teachers. The weekend provides a unique opportunity for Black, Asian and Minority
Ethnic (BAME) members to network and discuss educational and workplace issues.
Christine Blower, General Secretary of the NUT, gave an address to Conference.
This was followed by an open forum session. The panel included: Christine Blower;
Clive Romain, Senior Solicitor; Betty Joseph, Black Member Constituency Seat
Holder; and Roger King, Executive Member. Delegates participated fully with a
number of questions posed to the panel.
Betty Joseph presented to delegates on a number of race issues including: the NUS
Student survey which found that 1 in 6 students had experienced racial harassment
and discrimination on their placements or in their own colleges and universities; the
lack of Black students on Teacher Training courses; immigration myths and
propaganda being promoted by the likes of UKIP that are fuelling racist attitudes;
and encouraging delegates to attend their Regional Council meetings and put
themselves forward to attend the TUC Black Workers Conference. Betty then
showed a video entitled ‘Divided by Race, United by War and Peace’ – a film about
BAME war veterans and volunteers, to celebrate their contribution and involvement
in the First and Second World Wars.
Dr Aminul Hoque, MBE, lecturer in Educational Studies, Goldsmiths University, gave
the first keynote speech. Aminul is a ‘young people and cultural identity expert’ with
over 17 years of voluntary and professional experience in the youth, community and
voluntary sector. Born in Bangladesh, his family came to the UK when he was just
three. Aminul considers himself a “British-Bangladeshi” and also a “Londoner”. Away
from his profession and research, Aminul spoke about his three passions: he is a
proud father, a passionate footballer and fanatical Manchester United fan.
“Key speaker – Aminul Hoque provided some inspiration.”
“Speakers – especially loved Aminul Hoque’s talk on who he is / identity.”
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In the group discussion session the delegates organised themselves into eight
groups. The focus of their discussion was the ‘Stand Up for Education’ Manifesto.
Delegates were asked to feedback one key message from each group.
The delegates then attended their selected workshops. Twelve workshops were
available There were nine different workshops running in sessions A and B. Three
workshops ran in both sessions. The workshop titles were:
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Equal Pay – how will you be affected by performance-related pay;
Where are the ethnic minority school leaders?;
Organising and Membership: how do you organise in schools;
Black History Month – how best to use it in schools;
Implementing the new SEN code of practice;
Radical teachers in the archive;
School – a place where I belong
Organising for international solidarity; and
Showing racism the red card in our schools.
On the second day Jenny Christopher welcomed delegates back to the conference
and introduced Jackie Ranger. Jackie gave the second keynote speech to
conference. Jackie has over 25 years’ experience in education and has worked
within the primary, secondary, further and higher education. Her leadership roles
span over 15 years, during which time she has contributed positively to the process
of school improvement. Jackie is currently the Principal of John Henry Newman
Academy in Oxford, a Church of England School sponsored by Oxford Diocesan
Schools Trust (ODST), and former Acting Headteacher of Krishna-Avanti Primary
School in Harrow.
“The motivational speech made by Jackie Ranger regarding her
journey to success as a black teacher.”
Good to know that such ‘young’ guest speakers which reflect that through
motivation anything is possible, along the theme “Who am I?”
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Motion passed by NUT Black Teachers’ Conference to go to Annual
Conference 2015
Jenny Christopher chaired as delegates debated the motion(s) proposed for Annual
Conference 2015.
Two motions were submitted to the Black Teachers’ Conference this year.
The following motion will be included in the Equalities Section of the agenda at NUT
Annual Conference 2015.
MOTION 1- as amended by amendments 1.1 and 1.2
Quotas for Senior Leadership Positions:
Within the current context of diminishing numbers of BME entrants to the profession
there is still under-representation in teaching positions, and even lower still at middle
management and leadership level, even in areas of the United Kingdom with majority
Black representation.
Conference is concerned that this state of affairs can impact negatively on the
achievement of Black children as they do not see representations that can act as
role models for them to aim to achieve at a high level. This current state of affairs is
disturbing because in the majority of schools, children see Black employees as
administrative staff, cleaners, kitchen or security staff. The lack of Black
representation in middle and senior management also discourages Black staff from
applying for higher positions and when some take the initiative to apply, they are
often denied even an interview.
Conference calls for the Executive to:
i.
ii.
iii.
Write to all head teachers to encourage that all schools have teaching staff
which reflect their student population. Also promote the Charter for Racial
Justice in Education.
In a time where political parties like UKIP have been scapegoating migrant
communities, the Union must do more in promoting diversity and the benefits
of migrants. The Union must support and promote aspirational initiatives like
‘Refugee Week or Migrant Week’. Distributing the booklet ‘Truth, Lies and
Migrants’ (SERTUC) to all members.
The Union must be more creative in encouraging members to participate in
the courses, ‘Aspiring to leadership and Equal Access to Promotion’ and to
monitor and follow up / mentor those to do more in helping BME teachers to
obtain and maintain senior positions.
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Four candidates were selected as members of the 2015 NUT Black Workers’
Conference Steering Group. These were: Leonara Smith; Jennifer Christopher; Sam
Makinde; and Francoise Moore.
Four candidates were selected as members of the 2015 NUT delegation to the TUC
Black Workers’ Conference. These were: Carol Jumpp-Graham; Jennifer
Christopher; Sam Makinde; and Kodwo Fynn. The conference will take place from
Friday 17 April to Sunday 19 April.
Betty Joseph then facilitated the Celebrating Success session. Twenty-seven
delegates were nominated for a Certificate of Success award for various professional
and personal achievements including: Black History Month events’, taking on more
responsibilities at school and achieving higher educational qualifications. Delegates
proudly received a certificate from Betty and applause from everyone at the event.
Max Hyde, NUT President, delivered the closing remarks. She thanked delegates for
their involvement and gave an update on some of the current work in which she and
the NUT are involved.
Jenny Christopher thanked the delegates and reminded them to complete the
conference evaluation forms. She wished them a pleasant and safe journey home.
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