Policy regarding ethnicity

• 1960s - 1970s Assimilation Policy:

  Focused on assimilating ethnic minority groups into mainstream British culture to raise achievement by improving their English language.

  Critics argue instead of making everyone the 'same', there should be more focus on celebrating our differences.
• 1970s - 1980s Multicultural Education Policies:

  This encouraged schools to incorporate the histories, texts, values and beliefs of people from different cultures, helping these students to feel valued.

  Combats the ethnocentric curriculum.

  However the New Right would prefer an ethnocentric curriculum as it may socialise us into a shared national identity.
• 1990s social inclusion policy:

  Aimed to ensure those at risk of being left out gain opportunities and resources necessary to fully participate in education. Implementing these includes detailed monitoring of exam results by ethnic group to ensure significant gaps are addressed.

  Also involved the amendment of the Race Relations Act to make it a legal requirement that schools promote racial equality.

  Critics may argue this has had little effect due to the still present racial disparities in GCSE grades. The fact that black pupils are the highest achievers upon entry to primary school, but have the lowest average GCSE grades shows that institutions still have a long way to go