Ethnic Minority Achievement Service

Back to previuos page

Sara McLaughlin (Community and Cohesion Manager)

‘Our Shared Future’ and Case Studies: Read the latest report and case studies on community cohesion by Darra Singh, chair of the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, June 2007 www.integrationandcohesion.org.uk

Request for case studies

In 2007 I have been working on helping schools prepare to meet the duty to promote community cohesion. I am currently doing some case study work with colleagues in schools to identify and capture examples of good practice in these areas. I will be posting these examples on the website and would welcome any contributions. I am specifically looking for examples of how schools have encouraged parents and pupils to work together across racial or linguistic boundaries on aspects of educational achievement.

I would be particularly interested in knowing how schools managed to attract a diverse range of pupils or parents to activities, whether it be an example from the curriculum or an out of school hours activity.

I would also welcome any feedback from schools saying how pupils or parents felt about working with groups with whom they had not had much previous contact – e.g. white UK parents working with Turkish parents, or Somali pupils working with African Caribbean pupils.

I also welcome any examples where things have not worked out, especially if we can learn from these!

I am keen to emphasise the importance of knowing the specific needs of each group in order to remove the barriers to cohesion, rather than the approach which says ‘let’s treat everyone the same’. As the commission on integration and cohesion report ‘Our Shared Future’ emphasises, ‘one size does not fit all’

(Darra Singh June 2007 www.integrationandcohesion.org.uk)

Downloads and Links

BPAP Reports

Community Cohesion