Claims of a “riot” at Redland Green School in Bristol have been denied by the school’s board trustees after a letter was sent to parents yesterday (Monday 5) informing them of “an incident where a number of students across year groups left lessons to protest.” Police were not called to attend the disturbance at the school yesterday, and the school insists reports of alleged damage to school property are "inaccurate".
A source who contacted Bristol Live claimed a protest escalated into a "riot", describing scenes of "chaos" with "bins tipped over, toilets smashed up, and graffiti sprayed over walls". The source also claimed "some members of staff had to barricade themselves into their offices while students tried to smash down the door".
However, the Gate House Green learning trust, which is responsible for the school, has refuted this account and said in a statement that following discussions last week between staff and some students, “a number of pupils from all backgrounds chose to make their voices heard on the issues of EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion ) and racism by way of protesting during the school day, raising issues that concern them.”
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The trust said, “During the 11.05 break period, up to 150 students decided to stage a peaceful protest on the school Astroturf and on the school site. The students remained supervised and safe at all times. The fire alarm was triggered, and all students, including those protesting quickly, followed the evacuation protocol. All students were back in classrooms as usual by 12.05 and for the rest of the day. None of the exams currently taking place at the school were disrupted.
“Some classroom doors were closed during the protest so that learning wasn’t disturbed. An inaccurate report suggested that considerable damage was caused in the school, which was incorrect; however, a bin was knocked over as students moved through the school.
“The school supports the right of students to speak passionately about how they feel and is ensuring that the students can have their say within the safe environment of the school.”
Head Teacher Ben Houghton added, “It is important that the voices of our pupils are not only heard, but also listened to, especially as EDI is one of our primary focusses for this year, and which will be externally audited next year.” Following the protest, the school says it plans to engage students, staff, families, and the community.
Nick Lewis, Interim CEO, said, “At GGLT, we pride ourselves on providing an education to prepare young people for life in modern Britain. This means that we commit to educating students to oppose discrimination, which is an anathema to British Values but rather positively work for a better, more equal society”.
This would not be the first time that pupils at the school have voiced their concerns over EDI issues. In 2020, following the Black Lives Matter protests and the fall of Edward Colston's statue, the Gatehouse Green Learning Trust announced it would "decolonising and diversifying" its curriculum after more than 500 pupils, alumni and parents signed the open letter demanding action.
The letter, shared with Bristol Live, said: "As we reflect upon our education with you, we feel we were provided with a predominantly white, Eurocentric perspective that did not go far enough to convey the systemic and systematic racism that Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) have faced historically, and still face today.
"Furthermore, it fell short of providing us with a complete picture of the rich, varied, and powerful histories of BIPOC communities and their contributions to modern art, culture, thought, politics, and society at large."
The authors of the letter said this was a national issue not limited to the particular schools in the trust.
In response, the trust's chief executive Sarah Baker sent parents a letter in which she wrote: "Our schools have a zero-tolerance approach to racist incidents, and we always take swift action against anyone who has been racist. However, we are aware anti-racism goes much further than this, and we all have a shared responsibility to create a fair, respectful and just society."
The letter continued: "We need to be brave enough to address the root causes and not shy away from uncomfortable discussions. Through discussion, we can all gain a better understanding of how we value the experiences and contribution of all in our schools and the wider community."
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