Reducing the disciplinary exclusion of Black pupils: and exploration of perceptions and practices within initial Teacher Training programmes

This resource is a research paper that outlines the findings of a small-scale qualitative study that was commissioned by Multiverse and the TDA to explore how policy level concerns about the need to reduce disproportionate rates of disciplinary exclusion amongst Black pupils were being addressed within ITE. It draws on the perspectives of both ITE tutors and ITE students. For a discussion of these policy level concerns see the publication DfES (2006) Priority Review Exclusion of Black Pupils: ‘Getting It. Getting It Right’. The research paper begins with a summary of some of the relevant literature to provide a context for the study. This is organised under two headings: 1.Disciplinary exclusion 2.Experiences of Black pupils in the English educational system A brief summary of the research design is followed by a discussion of the research findings under three headings: 1.Coverage and understandings of high rates of Black exclusion 2.Teaching about disciplinary exclusion 3.Promoting understanding of race equality The paper concludes with some suggestions about how a stronger focus on these issues might be developed in ITE.