Race in School Education

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:00 in Discussion Forums

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Prof Stephen Ward

Where: The Michael Tippett Centre, Bath Spa University, Newton Park, Newton St Loe, Bath, BA2 9BN
Date: 18 January 2012
Time: 18:00-20:00
With: Professor Stephen Ward, Dean of School, School of Education, Bath Spa University

Summary

In this seminar, held at Bath Spa University, Professor Stephen Ward, the Dean of Education, talked about the history of races in the UK and the meaning of the terms ‘race’ and ‘racism’. In his presentation he highlighted some interesting statistics on race and school education. Around thirty people from different backgrounds attended the seminar and participated in the vibrant discussion which followed the initial presentation.

Abstract

Britain is a multicultural, multiracial and multi-faith society. In this talk, Stephen Ward examines the ways in which British schools and the education system have responded to a changing post-war population. There will be a discussion of some of the key issues of racism, the school curriculum and the growth of faith schools. It should be of interest to all those who seek to live in a peaceful and mutually tolerant society.

Biography of Stephen Ward

Stephen taught in primary and secondary schools in Leeds before coming into teacher education in 1980. He has broad experience of management in the School of Education, having run the University inservice teacher training programmes, the undergraduate primary teacher training degree and set up the partnership scheme with local primary schools. Until 2006 he was Head of the Department of Education and Childhood Studies in which he developed the successful undergraduate Education Studies programme and Foundation Degrees.

He has recently edited two books on Education Studies and is joint author of a book on education policy. He is a founding member of the British Education Studies Association (BESA), was Chair in 2006-07 and organised the 2007 Annual Conference of the Association at Bath Spa University. His previous publications include books on the Primary Curriculum and the teaching of Primary School music as well as papers on race in teacher education and on partnerships between schools and universities in teacher training.

His most recent research is a doctoral thesis is on the emergence of Education Studies as a new university subject in England and Wales.