Promoting Achievement Celebrating Diversity

The Race Relations Amendment Act places a duty on all schools to promote equality of opportunity and good race relations. In order to carry out this duty, schools need to continue to meet the challenges of raising the attainment of minority ethnic groups and of developing in all young people a positive regard for cultural diversity. The Oldham Ethnic Minorities Support Service (now incorporated in to the School Improvement Group), in partnership with schools, has developed a range of high quality publications to support schools and LEAs.

All these resources have been developed by working groups and/or trialled in Oldham schools. They are examples of best practice and have attracted excellent feedback both locally and nationally.

For more information or to order any of these books please contact us on 0161 770 3668 (fax: 0161 770 3664).
E-Mail: saadia.mahmood@oldham.gov.uk.

Policy and Guidance

Raising Attainment Through Reducing Extended Absence in Term Time

Revised policy and guidance issued May 2003 in line with national developments.
Provides a clear rationale and framework for managing extended absence.
Provides a “model” for LEAs and schools.

“Just what we were looking for. We can use this as a basis to develop our own policy.” Sandwell LEA.

Ethnic Minority Achievement Survey (KS1 – 4)

Based on recommendations re: EAL assessment in QCA “A Language in Common”.
Breaks down N.C. English level descriptors and provides pre level one “steps” and “pre-steps”.
Used by Oldham LEA to assess need and allocate EMAG.
Can also be used to track individual pupil progress through a “pupil booklet”.

“A great improvement on previous assessment; really practical. It’s great that’s based on N.C. English.” An Oldham primary teacher.

Mother Tongue Assessment

High quality photocopiable resource with 12 full colour A4 photographs.
Uses N.C. English descriptors adapted for mother tongue use.
Allows meaningful comparisons between mother tongue and English language development.

“This new resource has really helped me carry out mother tongue assessments with confidence. I use it all the time” Home School Liaison Officer, Oldham LEA.

Guidelines for the assessment of bilingual pupils who may have learning difficulties

Updated September 2002 to align with the new SEN Code of Practice.
Includes “triggers for referral” and a timeline for assessment.
Allows for well founded judgements to be made.

“An extremely practical and useful set of guidelines.All schools should have a copy.” SENCO in a Birmingham secondary school.

Guidelines for PE in multi-faith schools

Provides practical guidance and a variety of options for appropriate clothing for PE.
Ensures that all children can take part and enjoy a full range of PE activities.

“We have found this very useful and have ordered 15 more copies.” Harlow LEA

Curriculum Materials

Day in the Life Series

Set of 5 early “readers” focusing on the daily lives of five Oldhamers of Kashmiri origin.
Each reader has 10 photos with simple texts.
2 versions: English/Bangla and English/Urdu.

“Beautifully presented books. A really useful resource for families that fills a gap for this kind of materials.” Children Services Librarian, Oldham.

Bangladesh Photo Activity Pack: Studying Communities in Sylhet and Oldham at KS2.

A really innovative teaching pack with “ready to use” lesson plans and resources.
Focuses on the daily lives of three families in Sylhet; the history of migration and settlement of the Oldham/UK Bangladeshi community and developing community cohesion in Oldham.
Extremely useful for teaching aspects of Geography, Citizenship and Literacy.

“I really loved working on Bangladesh. It is a really good project.” Y4 pupil Oldham primary school.

Extended Visits Workbook: Pakistan and Bangladesh

Full colour, attractively designed workbooks.
Activities based on photographs taken in Sylhet (Bangladesh) and Mirpur (Pakistan) which consolidate national curriculum skills.
The workbooks complement the Policy on Extended Absence and maximise the educational benefits of visits to country of family origin.

NB:The Pakistan Workbook is published in partnership with Sandwell and Sheffield LEAs and Sheffield Development Education Centre.

“These workbooks are really fantastic – lots of exciting activities for my children to do.” An Oldham parent.

Teaching Pack Citizenship: Culture & Diversity - An Oldham Focus (KS3/4)

Includes a range of stimulating and challenging activities for pupils from Year 7 to 11.
Activities set out as “ready to use” lesson plans with all resources included.
Appropriate for all schools in the UK and particularly relevant for localities that have experienced racial tension in recent years.
Includes a CD Rom of the pack.

“An excellent resource for teachers that will help them teach the importance of citizenship.” Cabinet member for Lifelong Learning, Oldham Council.

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