African Caribbean people in Leicestershire / Education matters: African Caribbean people and schools in Leicestershire

Representatives of Leicestershire’s African Caribbean community, in collaboration with central government, the local authorities and the University of Leicester, commissioned a comprehensive study of the needs of, provisions for, and opportunities available to, African Caribbean people in the county. The study adopted a ‘bottom-up’ approach to ensure that members of the community had the opportunity to speak for themselves. As part of the study a major questionnaire survey was conducted involving some 8.5% of the total African Caribbean population across the county, ages 16 years and over. In addition, group discussions and interviews were conducted with black parents and schoolchildren. This Report summarises the findings of the research on African Caribbean people and education, selected as the issue of greatest concern by 53% of the people surveyed. The study reveals continued underachievement by black pupils and disproportionately high levels of exclusions. Inadequate ethnic monitoring means that the extent of the disadvantage experienced by black children is insufficiently visible or recognised. The Report includes 14 recommendations for action which, if implemented, should bring about a marked improvement in the experiences and achievements of black pupils and enable them to fulfil their potential.