Council 'doing its best to improve contact between racial groups' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Council 'doing its best to improve contact between racial groups'

6:56pm Wednesday 20th January 2010 in

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Education chiefs have defended attempts to boost community cohesion in Bradford after a report claimed the district had some of the most segregated schools in the country.

The research by academics at Bristol University, published today, found 70 per cent of white pupils and those of Pakistani origin at primary schools would have to move schools so that all rolls mirror the district’s ethnic make-up.

But in response, councillors responsible for education in the district have highlighted the success of schemes aimed at increasing links between children from different racial groups.

According to Bristol University’s Measuring Diversity report, fewer than ten per cent of South Asian pupils in Bradford are taught in schools where white children are a majority while the same percentage of white pupils attend schools where the majority of children are of Pakistani descent.

But the research also found the city to be less segregated than in 2002 when 80 per cent of Pakistani children in primary schools would have had to change schools to reflect the city’s racial mix.

Councillor David Ward, education spokesman for the Council’s Liberal Democrat group, said: “I don’t think there’s anyone who would seriously accept the bussing of children which is what would be required to redress the balance in schools.

“It makes it even more of a priority that we do more linking between schools at secondary level as well as primary.”

Councillor Ralph Berry, education spokesman for the authority’s Labour group, said sports activities should continue to be used to encourage integration as well as linking projects.

He added: “We have got to positively argue the case for people experiencing and knowing other communities. If people are not respecting and engaging with each other the city is the poorer for it.

“This has got to happen both inside and outside of school.”

Angie Kotler, head of the Bradford-based Schools Linking Network, which works with more than 100 schools across the district to ensure pupils mix with children from different backgrounds, said: “While what we do isn’t perfect, as the children are not together everyday, it’s a pragmatic response because you can’t move entire families across the district.

“The network gives students and teachers the opportunity to visit other parts of the district and a sense of shared ownership of the district.

“Just having a mixed population at a school doesn’t guarantee cohesion – it takes a lot of effort to have cohesive communities.”

Councillor Michael Kelly, the Council’s executive member for services to children and young people, was not available for comment.

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