I am writing to you to inform you of a number of new developments including our planning to support schools in addressing issues related to 'Multicultural/diversity Education', the Global Dimension and meeting statutory duties, both general and specific under the Race Relations Act, the positive promotion and celebration of the diverse Britain in which we live and our place in the global village.

The links across to self evaluation and the analysis of the performance of groups within the school population as well as exciting curriculum approaches will also feature in what we anticipate to be an exciting and challenging learning experience.

Mike Furbank, Senior Advisor, School Improvement Service

The first and most significant development has been the appointment of an officer to lead on this range of issues.

Yvette Fox came into post in January 2006, having been a teacher in Derby and Hull, where she developed a real passion for this agenda.

Yvette will be linking us into regional and national networks and project managing curriculum innovation initiatives, such as Wilberforce 2007, delivering central training on the development of effective policy and practice in meeting your duties under the Race Relations Act and developing Global Citizenship - spreading the best practice from within and beyond the authority.

It is our attention to set up a programme of central training as well as delivering specific advice and support to schools.

We will also be brokering support from cutting edge national providers, such as UNICEF, that builds on the work initiated by Denise Chisholm to support the implementation of citizenship, helping you to ensure you meet statutory entitlements (KS3 and KS4 including assessment) and the recommended curriculum offer within a broad and rich primary curriculum.

The training will be preceded by research and pilot work in East Riding Schools and where possible will be firmly embedded in best practice in terms of teaching and learning as well as helping schools to meet key duties.

The links across to self evaluation and the analysis of the performance of groups within the school population as well as exciting curriculum approaches will also feature in what we anticipate to be an exciting and challenging learning experience.

The training will commence in the autumn term 2006 and will be repeated each term until spring 2008 to enable you to plan the timing of your involvement and/or send different groups of teachers.

As you will see from the first course notice, which you will receive in the Autumn Term pack, it is our intention to support key policy makers in the first instance.

As our understanding of the Equalities agenda has developed it has become clear that the mono-ethnic nature of most East Riding schools requires more robust and compelling practice than in areas which have more diverse communities.

The support of Head Teachers in this agenda or a senior deputy is essential to ensure that this key area of statutory obligation is fully addressed and the spirit of the law is fully embedded within the practice and ethos of the school.

I hope that we will be able to count on your support in this important innovation and we can look forward to these approaches being warmly praised in SEFs and OFSTED reports for years to come.

Mike Furbank, Head of Improvement and Learning
Tel: (01482) 392402
E-mail: mike.furbank@eastriding.gov.uk

Yvette Fox, Teaching and Learning Consultant, Multicultural Education and Global Citizenship/TIPD Co-ordinator
Tel: (01482) 392436
E-mail: yvette.fox@eastriding.gov.uk

If you require information about the forthcoming project (Yvette Fox), or citizenship in general, please contact:

Denise Chisholm, PSHCE and Drugs Co-ordinator
Tel: (01482) 392412
E-mail: denise.chisholm@eastriding.gov.uk