What has been done by the Welsh Government in the development and rollout of the new curriculum for Wales to ensure that white teachers are sufficiently trained and equipped to deliver lessons on Black. Asian and ethnic minority history and contributions in Wales?
Diversity and Anti-racist Professional Learning (DARPL) has been fast-tracked by Welsh Government as part of the National Professional Learning Entitlement for educational professionals. DARPL formally launched in autumn 2022 and is crucial to realising the Curriculum for Wales and achieving high standards and aspirations for all.
This progressive project is led by a coalition of partners with lived experience to support those working in education to develop anti-racist practice. DARPL delivers professional learning through a hybrid model of online synchronous and asynchronous learning. DARPL also provides an anti-racist community of action for everyone involved in education, childcare and play in Wales.
DARPL caters for a broad spectrum of practitioners ranging from senior leaders, teachers and support staff to wider school staff and governors to underpin the transition from non-racist to anti-racist practice. Synchronous DARPL sessions in June will focus on anti-semitism and education, through exploring the opportunities and challenges for the Curriculum for Wales.
All DARPL anti-racist resources, training, and guidance are available in one place through the DARPL virtual campus which attracts over 2,000 hits on a monthly basis. Since the launch, DARPL has progressed at pace, with 18,000 education professionals engaging to date, through live events, consultations and asynchronous resources.
The positive effects of DARPL on learners was recently evidenced through poignant work by pupil diversity clubs, with learners producing short videos as part of the Teaching Wales campaign, to attract more teachers from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds into teaching.
In a number of regions, DARPL is moving into more bespoke work, to further support schools on their individual anti-racist journey. The first national DARPL leadership event, involving over 250 educational leaders across Wales on
June 8th will build on firm foundations to further support the transition to an
anti-racist Welsh education system for all.