Discrimination not taken seriously, say teachers

Less than a quarter of teachers feel their school takes the issue of discriminatory practices against staff seriously, a conference organised by the NASUWT teachers’ union heard last month.

Nearly four in 10 (38%) said that disabled teachers experience difficulty in securing reasonable adjustments in the workplace. And 14% said they had experienced either bullying related to a protected characteristic such as their gender or race, or discrimination in accessing employment.

Teachers at the union’s equalities conference called for more to be done to address discrimination and prejudice within schools.

A real-time electronic poll of teachers attending the conference revealed that 29% said they had experienced discrimination in career progression during their teaching career.

The results show that discrimination is not confined to any one area. Over two-thirds (67%) said there is a problem with homophobia and transphobia in schools, while more than a third (36%) said that the biggest issue facing black and minority ethnic teachers is that of racism or prejudice not being taken seriously by senior management.

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates called for a coherent strategy driven by government to address these issues, including requirements on schools to have appropriate policies in place and provide training to support their introduction and raise awareness.

“Schools should be a safe and positive environment for staff and pupils,” she concluded.

www.nasuwt.org.uk/Whatsnew/NASUWTNews/PressReleases/NASUWT_014351