Timeplan
Published: 26th March 2009

There is currently a shortage of teachers from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds, it has been noted.

According to the Independent, last year saw a 12 per cent drop in the number of new entrants in primary and secondary teaching from non-white ethnicities.

Ameer Sheikh, the only black teacher at a Sunderland secondary where one in ten pupils are from BME backgrounds, told the news source that he is “constantly aware” of the role he needs to play.

“For the black students, I feel I need to be a role model and for the white students, I feel I need to do my bit in helping them cope in a diverse society,” he stated.

Action is being taken to try and increase the number of BME teachers in England’s schools, noted the paper, with one project at Manchester Metropolitan University encouraging young teenagers from these backgrounds to consider a teaching career.

Viv Grant, founder of consultancy organisation Integrity Coaching, recently told the Voice that BME teachers should be offered more support to move up the career ladder.