Brighton council under fire over teacher training on racism

Brighton and Hove City Council released the slides from its "anti-racist schools strategy" in the interest of "transparency" and for "greater public understanding" after initially rejecting a request from a parent to see them.

The council has been accused of telling schools to teach white privilege and inherited racial guilt to children.

Campaigners claim the council's "anti-racist schools strategy" is illegal and creates "confusion, distress and division".

• READ MORE: Education secretary sends in officials amid row over teaching on racism

The row centres on the use of critical race theory (CRT), which argues that racism is embedded within our laws and government institutions.

The council introduced the slides, which it got from external consultants, in December 2020.

Adrian Hart, a former teacher who has campaigned against the use of the training resources, had a Freedom of Information (FOI) request turned down on commercial grounds due to the council not having “ownership of the training materials”.

The teacher training is called "Racial Literacy 101"

The Argus received a copy of the slides which campaigners fear promotes the ideas of critical race theory as fact.

One slide says that “evidence shows” between the ages of three and five, children learn to “attach value to skin colour, white at the top of the hierarchy and black at the bottom”.

The slides also distinguish in a chart the difference between “overt white supremacy” and “covert white supremacy” – with the latter stating that “fearing people of colour” and “not challenging racist jokes” are seen as socially acceptable.

People have criticised the slides for promoting Critical Race Theory which is highly disputed

The council said it is "up to individual schools what weight they choose to give different theories" and how that translates into teaching.

Nadhim Zahawi, education secretary for the Department of Education, described the slides as "concerning" and said "contested theories and opinions must not be presented to young people as facts".

This comes after the council said last year that there "is nothing in the current guidance or resources" that contradicts the law or "recommends to schools that they teach white privilege or inherited racial guilt to pupils and students".

Another slide from the presentation

GB News anchor Andrew Neil questioned whether the approach may be illegal, based on a statement from the government’s equalities minister, Kemi Badenoch.

She said in 2020: "We do not want to see teachers teaching their pupils about white privilege and inherited racial guilt.”

“Any school which teaches these elements of critical race theory, or which promotes partisan political views such as defunding the police without offering a balanced treatment of opposing views, is breaking the law.”

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Mr Hart argued that the council’s “anti-racist schools strategy” rebuilds the concept of race as a social construct in “black and white terms so ironically reminiscent of traditional racism”.

He said: “Teachers successfully trained by the council’s experts show they understand how our society, its systems, its schools are formed around a single, almost timeless, entity - white supremacy.

“They must recognise that the inevitable racism that permeates every social structure and interpersonal relationship you can name is hard-wired across centuries. Indeed, a council CRT expert told me that maybe, just maybe – with the right kinds of state education – the grip of white supremacy might loosen in a hundred years or so."

Nadhim Zahawi, education secretary, is investigating (Image: PA)

Nadhim Zahawi said: “I know that every day in schools across the country, brilliant teachers are teaching sensitive issues in a balanced and inclusive way – which is why reports like this one are so concerning.

“These issues can be incredibly divisive if covered in the wrong way, and I am clear – as is the law in the country – that any contested theories and opinions must not be presented to young people as facts. My officials are in contact with Brighton and Hove Council to further understand the exact nature of these materials.

“I know as well as anyone that race can be a tricky issue to cover, but we should strive to show young people that those things which we have in common are much greater than anything that might separate us.”

A council spokesman said: “We are proud of our pledge and work to be an anti-racist city and to support school staff to make education settings fairer in line with both government guidance and the law.

“The anti-racist training we offer is for staff – not pupils. It is up to individual schools what weight they choose to give different theories and how they translate them into their teaching and policies.”

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