😔 Swann Report: 40th Anniversary

• Anniversary of Swann Report: The session marked the 40th anniversary of the Swann report, which was published to address disparities in educational attainment among ethnic minority pupils and tackle institutional racism in Britain’s education system.

• Historical Context: The report was commissioned due to campaigns against racism in education, notably the scandal involving educationally subnormal (ESN) schools that disproportionately placed black Caribbean children, damaging their education and labelling them as less capable due to racist policies.

• Impact of Racist Policies: The discussion highlighted how these policies and racist attitudes in the 1960s and 1970s, fueled by rising immigration and societal discrimination, led to systemic educational disadvantage for black children, often forced into ESN schools intended for children with severe disabilities.

• Key Findings of Swann Report: The Swann report in 1985 confirmed that racist stereotypes, biased tests, cultural misunderstandings, and biased expectations from teachers were major barriers to education for black children, challenging myths about intellectual inferiority.

• Recommendations and Government Response: The Swann report made several recommendations including diversifying curricula, improving teacher recruitment, offering anti-racism training, and enhancing support for pupils with English as a second language. However, the subsequent Thatcher government did little to implement these, while the Labour government later used it as a basis for the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

• Ongoing Challenges: Despite some progress, issues such as disparities in educational attainment, the school-to-prison pipeline, and the need for an anti-racist curriculum persist. The session pointed out that modern practices like school exclusions and the use of pupil referral units reflect ongoing systemic failures.

• Personal Stories: The session included personal testimonies from survivors of the ESN scandal, illustrating the long-term impacts on their lives and the continued fight for justice and recognition of the educational injustices they faced.

• Call for Public Inquiry: There was a call for a public inquiry into the ESN scandal to acknowledge past wrongs, understand current systemic racism in education, and learn from historical mistakes to drive meaningful change.

• Government Stance: The Minister acknowledged the historical wrongs and the government’s commitment to improving educational outcomes and inclusivity. However, a public inquiry into the ESN schools was not currently planned.

• Future Actions: The government’s opportunity mission aims to break down barriers to success for all children, with a focus on early intervention, improving school standards, and reducing disparities influenced by socio-economic factors.

The parliamentary session on the 40th anniversary of the Swann Report displays significant disagreement, particularly around the progress made since the report’s publication and the call for a public inquiry. Here’s a detailed analysis of the session:

1. Disagreement on Progress Since the Swann Report:
   • Kim Johnson (Labour) argues that conditions for black children in the education system have not improved substantially since the Swann Report, highlighting ongoing racist barriers and systemic issues such as the school-to-prison pipeline and the adultification of black pupils. She states, “I do not think that things have substantially improved, as he suggests, for lots of black children in our education system.”
   • Jim Shannon (DUP) acknowledges the Swann Report but suggests that progress has been made, stating, “ Does she agree that although substantial strides have been taken since that eye-opening report, the learning curve for the integration and understanding that we all wish to see must continue…” This statement directly contradicts Johnson’s view.
2. Disagreement on the Need for a Public Inquiry:
   • Kim Johnson strongly advocates for a public inquiry into the ESN scandal, emphasizing its necessity to secure justice for the victims and understand current systemic racism. She directly asks the Minister, “I hope the Minister will join me today in recognising the wrong that was done to the survivors of ESN. A public inquiry into the scandal of ESN schools is necessary…”
   • Catherine McKinnell (Minister for School Standards) acknowledges past injustices and commits to tackling disparities but clearly states that the Government does not plan to establish a public inquiry. She says, “The Government do not currently plan to establish a public inquiry on the policy framework surrounding the placement of children in schools for the so-called educationally subnormal in the 1960s and 1970s.”
3. Additional Points of Divergence:
   • John McDonnell (Independent) supports Johnson’s call for an inquiry, emphasizing the importance of addressing unconscious bias and that lessons need to be learned by Ofsted and other agencies.
   • Catherine McKinnell acknowledges the role of unconscious bias but does not commit to the inquiry, instead focusing on measures such as early intervention and inclusive provision.

The disagreement is evident in the contrasting views on progress and the necessity of a public inquiry, with strong arguments presented by Johnson and support from McDonnell, while the Minister firmly rejects the inquiry. The session displays significant contention, leading to a rating of 4 out of 5.