School In Devon Criticised By Ofsted For Being Insufficiently ‘Multicultural’.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2651108/Rural-school-deemed-white-Ofsted-visits-London-mix-ethnic-pupils.html

/// Through our topics, visitors and discussions we have been developing multicultural awareness in both Britain and throughout the world, but this visit will help us to experience in real life a school where there is a wide mix of children with different ethnic backgrounds and almost 50 per cent of the children do not have English as their first language.’ ///

I always thought that it was the immigrants to a land who were encouraged to take an interest in how the natives of that land lived, not the other way round as in this case?

I wonder if Smallberry Green primary in Isleworth will be returning this visit to show their pupils how most of the indigenous natives of this country lived before multi immigration?

[EcclesCake]

Perhaps that explains my tolerance of other cultures, faiths, races, colours and football supporters, etc then AOG.

My grandparents and parents lived and worked all over the world; Middle East, Africa, continental America and places I cannot recall.

How lucky they were to experience such a mix of cultures.

[baza]

whilst we appear to have multi cultural schools etc. it seems that a local small school loses points due to a lack of same.
I attended senior schools in 2 new towns and cannot recall meeting any other than white pupils.

[Mamyalynne]

I think it is a cracking idea - all children need diversity and the London School will be going to Cornwall to , though not all pupils as the numbers are too high for them all to be accommodated.

The more we allow our children to experience the better they can make their decisions in life, gone are the days when everyone stayed in the same village from birth till the grave.

[Svejk]

I had my first(of many) caning when I was about 6 for throwing coke over the wall of the proddy school opposite.
We didn't go in for much cultural diversity in them days, lol.

[Mamyalynne]

Throwing fuel away?? Were you made of money??

[Svejk]

that's one thing we ad plenty of in Wales, mamya, circa 1960.
come to think of it, the proddy's ended up with more than us. ;)

[Mamyalynne]

Interesting you should mention coke/coal on this thread - I grew up thinking both my Uncle Arnold (A miner) and Frank the Coalman were black. It wasn't until I saw them at a family wedding I realised - but then again I grew up in a diverse neighbourhood.

[Svejk]

^lol. we had more 'blackmen' in the 60s than we have now.

[naomi24]

I don’t understand Ofsted’s criticism. This is not an ethnically diverse area. What do they expect?

[Peter Pedant]

baza /// perhaps the children in Devon should be taught a couple of languages before the visit ///
and then AOG gives his views again....

Of course languages should be taught in schools, even in England.
The day is past when one went abroad and loudly wondered 'why dont they speak English ? '

My choice would be Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin - along with English accounts for four billion of the six billion on this planet, no ?

[Zacs-Master]

I don't see what all the fuss is. It would seem a good idea to me. If you read the article ( ,I understand this can be cerebrally challenging for some DM readers, rather than just the misleading headline) it says 'Their report recommended ‘improving links with communities in contrasting parts of the UK'' so it wasn't criticism at all, just a recommendation. So, once again, no story, just a headline to incite the DM nuckldraggers.

[sherrardk]

Ofsted are making problems where none exist. If you are an outstanding school one visit then you won't be the next because there isn't the room to improve (very de- motivating). If your school is in a non multi-cultural area you have to manufacture situations which are totally false in order to satisfy their bizarre criteria. It's all complete madness.

[Zacs-Master]

I wouldn't call educating children about other peoples cultures 'bizarre' especially when said children will probably go out into the big wide world where a little cultural knowledge might lead them to be less prejudiced and a bit more tolerant.

[seadogg]

Ofsted have already turned schools inside out and teachers grey over basic educational skills in the three r's. Now they are apparently turning to social engineering.

[sherrardk]

I didn't mean educating children about other cultures was bizarre, I meant Ofsted's criteria are bizarre. My children don't meet/know anyone who isn't white (we live in a very 'white' area) but they are very aware of other cultures and different religions. I think Ofsted are just putting stupid hurdles in the way to be bloody awkward.

[Mamyalynne]

I think most of us agree that Ofsted make some odd guidelines/remarks - however leaving that aside for now, I think the visit (both ways) will beneficial.