Glaitness Primary champions anti racism with help from KGS Anti Racism Group

Glaitness Primary School is tackling racism on multiple fronts with help from the KGS Anti Racism group, whose recent work includes securing education resources for the Orkney community.

Ms Towsey’s P7 class took delivery of some of those resources last week. Having already decided they wanted anti racism to be part of their class ethos, the pupils also asked the KGS Anti Racism Group to stay and speak to the class more about their work.

Iona Dundas (S5) from the group presented the books and spoke to the P7 pupils about what the roots of racism are, some of the reasons why people may be racist, and what actions the KGS Anti Racism Group have taken and are setting into motion.

Ms Towsey says the visit fits in well with work towards the ‘Rights Respecting Schools Award’ at Glaitness Primary, and has led to even more ideas on how the school can amplify the anti racism message.

Thanking the KGS Anti Racism group for their visit, Ms Towsey said: “It was a really valuable session - the conversation in the classroom since has been very interesting and what a lot of thought provoking discussion we are now having.

“As a class we’ll be presenting the books to the rest of the school and leading a discussion at the first assembly after the October break – and I’ll be talking to colleagues about anti racism as part of our staff in-service this week, using a presentation developed by the KGS Anti Racism group.”

Head Teacher Ingrid Rendall said: “We’d thank the KGS Anti Racism group for these resources and their inspiring presentation – both of which will help our school show that anti racism is a part of our core values here at Glaitness Primary but importantly across Orkney as well.”

The KGS Anti Racism Group is supported by Theo Ogbhemhe, Teacher of Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies at KGS. Theo was named in 2021 as the first ever recipient of the Saroj Lal Award which recognises work in challenging discrimination and promoting equality.

The Group received funding earlier this year from Scottish Government’s Small Grants Fund for anti-racism work in education led by children and young people – and the new resources are just one part of a suite of actions the Group is spearheading.

To find out more about the resources and the work of the KGS Anti Racism Group, read our previous story.

Pictured here is Iona Dundas from the KGS Anti Racism Group presenting the resources to Glaitness P7 pupils.