Cardiff Met report highlights collaborative approach to advancing anti-racist practice in education
A new report from Diversity and Anti-Racist Professional Learning (DARPL), based in the School of Education and Social Policy, shows that collaboration between local authorities, key education stakeholders, school leaders, learning communities and staff helps schools tackle racism more effectively. It also highlights how working together to solve problems can create school environments that are safer, more welcoming and more innovative.
The DARPL Swansea Local Authority Collaborative Enquiry Report highlights how education professionals worked together in driving a regional approach to explore challenges, share experiences and identify practical actions and regional policy shifts feeding into national approaches to realise the ambitions of the Curriculum for Wales and Anti-racist Wales Action Plan (ArWAP).
The work forms part of DARPL’s wider mission to support policy makers and leaders in the education system across Wales in embedding anti-racist principles into everyday practice, professional learning continuums, policy reform and continuous critical enquiry.
Established within Cardiff Met by Chantelle Haughton and funded by Welsh Government, DARPL operates as a dynamic community of practice, bringing together experts to provide sustained professional learning, resources and leadership development opportunities across the education system and for schools, colleges, childcare providers and other organisations across Wales. DARPL continues to play a key role in supporting the goals of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, striving for Wales to become an anti-racist nation.
The new report demonstrates the importance of examining current approaches, deepening leadership understanding of anti-racism and decoloniality and considering how improvements can be made when considering community cohesion and a sense of belonging. The findings emphasise the importance of leadership, sustained professional learning, critical policy review, dialogue and commitment to ensuring that all learners feel authentically represented and valued.
Chantelle Haughton, Director-Founder of DARPL, said:
“This report demonstrates what can be achieved through regional approaches driving learning communities to come together with a genuine commitment to professional learning, listening and co-creating change. The collaborative enquiry provided an opportunity for colleagues to share experiences, reflect on decisions in practice and policy implementation to strengthen understanding of what anti-racism and decoloniality looks like in action. The work is a pipeline into continuous action, innovation and impact going forward.”
She added:
“Creating an anti-racist education system is a shared responsibility. The findings show the value of building strong partnerships and creating safe spaces for honest conversations that can lead to meaningful and lasting improvements for learners, community and staff. Whilst the work was undertaken in Swansea, the recommendations and findings offer transferable considerations pan-Wales.”
The report publication adds to DARPL’s growing body of impact in policy, practice and research. This collaboration with Swansea Local Authority results in regional step-change through strategic planning and also reflects DARPL’s leadership and Cardiff Met’s commitment to supporting positive social change across Wales.
Read the full report here: DARPL Swansea Local Authority Collaborative Enquiry Report