Schools cry out for minority role models

By Liz Hewitt

Liverpool pupils have a shortage of role models from black and ethnic minority groups in the classroom.

The Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS), is an organisation which is part of Liverpool City Council and, working with Liverpool schools, endeavours to provide children of all backgrounds with the support they need to achieve their full potential in the classroom.

EMTAS is a 30 strong department comprised of teachers, teaching assistants and linguists who work with children to try to tackle any issues that may affect their learning.

Barbara Higgins, EMTAS Manager and former primary school teacher, said: “We collect data to monitor the achievements of the pupils. That way we can chart attainment and target support for children and families."

"We have schools where the percentage of ethnic minority pupils is reaching 95%, many with English as an additional language. We need more teachers from ethnic minority communities in our classrooms to be positive role models,”

Gill Rowlands, EMTAS Assistant Manager said: “Liverpool schools are very good at identifying issues and often come to EMTAS to get extra support for their pupils."

EMTAS works in conjunction with many associations and services to support ethnic minority pupils. A main goal for EMTAS at the moment is to incorporate more Black history into the school curriculum to reflect our multicultural City.

New Park Primary School in Kensington is situated in one of the most deprived wards in England where mental health issues are high and there are a large amount of children on the free school meals register.

Ofsted regard New Park Primary as ‘outstanding’ in terms of their teaching and learning, particularly in aspects such as inclusion. Newcomer children with English as an additional language are welcomed into the school community and supported to allow them to access the curriculum. Support comes from the school's staff with additional help from EMTAS.

Moira Loftus, teacher at New Park Primary School said: “Approximately 25% of our school population are children with English as an additional language and we have about 29 different languages spoken by children in our school.

“EMTAS sends in a support worker once a week to work with our EAL children. If it’s Black History Month or Diversity Week they will give us resources that we can use to enrich our classroom activities.”

Moira said: “We’re a very caring school and our priority is that all our children, whatever their background or language, feel safe, included and able to progress."