Anti-Racist Education

Sometimes we can see racism happening but there’s other times it’s hidden or not that obvious. It’s important to know if it’s happening.

Member of Children’s Parliament, Dundee

In 2021, with the support of the David Hume Institute, Children’s Parliament conducted a national poll of 2,600 children to explore their top three concerns about growing up in Scotland. One of those concerns was discovered to be fair and consistent access to an anti-racist education. To highlight their discovery, Members of Children’s Parliament presented the issue to the First Minister at our annual meeting with the Scottish Cabinet.

Child's illustration of hands raised in solidarity. Artwork produced as part of Children's Parliament's exploration of Anti-racist education, 2021.

While presenting the issue to the Scottish Cabinet, our Members of Children’s Parliament asked Ministers to ensure:

  • Support for children who have experienced racism.
  • Anti-racist education to be shaped by experts, including children and teachers who identify as people of colour.
  • To know how to report racism and what will happen if we report it.
  • To learn about racism, the impact of racism and how to challenge it.
  • To learn about the achievements and experiences of people of colour today and from the past.
  • To have more people of colour as teachers and school staff.
  • School staff to be trained in delivering anti-racist education.

In 2023, the Scottish Government published their Breaking the Mould Principles. A resource designed to help educators and school leaders understand what an anti-racist curriculum can mean in practice with children.

In 2024, the Scottish Government commissioned Children’s Parliament to undertake a programme of work to adapt the Breaking the Mould anti racist curriculum principles for a primary school setting. This challenge was successfully taken on by  children from a Dundee City Council primary school with the support of Intercultural Youth Scotland.

Member of Children's Parliament stands in front of their artwork. Anti racist education (Children's Parliament 2024)

Anti-Racist Education:
Children’s Calls to Action 

Children have developed a set of clear Calls to Action that outline what they believe adults and decision-makers must do. 

Graphic of hands crossing in a team dynamic with text reading, "Fighting racism defending rights"
  • Let us help design our learning so it’s fun and fair, and teach us about our rights.
  • Help us identify racism and how it hurts people.
  • Help us understand power and privilege so we can make things fair for everyone.
  • Teach us how to stand up to racism and help others.
  • Make sure we learn about different cultures, languages, and stories.
  • Tell us the real history of Scotland, including its role in slavery and racism.
  • We want to learn, speak up, and help make the world a kinder, fairer place! 

The Children’s Calls to Action and Adapted Anti-Racist Curriculum Principles for Primary Settings can be downloaded here.

To access a document of the resources developed with and for children, click the button.

Our report of the work and findings can be accessed via the link.

Our Project Lead, Marion Geoffray, wrote about the investigation’s process and outputs. You can read Marion’s words in our News section.

Date: 2024
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