Hello everyone, welcome back to the Unlearn Something podcast!
This week we are talking about ESN (Educationally Sub Normal) schools in the UK and what impact they might have on school communities today.
ESN schools were introduced in the UK in the early 20th century and continued for decades. According to an article published by the BBC in 2021, in 1967, 28% of pupils placed in ESN schools were from Black immigrant families, almost double the 15% in mainstream schools.
In this episode, we discuss and share some useful resources to learn more about ESN schools in the UK, the impact it had on pupils and families and the potential for the legacy of this to continue in our school communities today.
There is an exhibition at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, London about children who were sent to live in the UK from the Caribbean. The exhibition includes some first hand interviews with people who attended ESN schools and showcases some primary sources. It is showing at the BCA until September 9 2023.
Like, share and rate us 5 stars!
If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on unlearnsomethingpod@gmail.com, and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.
Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance
Show Notes (further reading)
BCA exhibition - Over a Barrel: Windrush Children, Tragedy and Triumph https://www.bcaexhibits.org/exhibits/over-a-barrel
Miss D -
BBC documentary 'Subnormal' https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000w81h/subnormal-a-british-scandal
Miss S -
Book about ESN schools in the UK 'How the West Indian Child is Made Educationally Sub-Normal in the British School System' by Bernard Coard
https://www.newbeaconbooks.com/black-british-fiction/a4wyiz9c6te8qqmndaeqldp9nte7rd
Small Axe: Education - Written and Dir by Sir Steve McQueen https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qfb1
Leigh Day Solicitors is working with clients affected by being misclassified as educationally subnormal and severly affected by their expereinces to achieve compensation for what happended to them. For more inforamtion contact fswaine@leighday.co.uk
If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on unlearnsomethingpod@gmail.com, and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.
Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance
You can sponsor the Unlearn Something Podcast by buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unlearnpod
Hello everyone, welcome back to the Unlearn Something podcast!
This week we are talking about ESN (Educationally Sub Normal) schools in the UK and what impact they might have on school communities today.
ESN schools were introduced in the UK in the early 20th century and continued for decades. According to an article published by the BBC in 2021, in 1967, 28% of pupils placed in ESN schools were from Black immigrant families, almost double the 15% in mainstream schools.
In this episode, we discuss and share some useful resources to learn more about ESN schools in the UK, the impact it had on pupils and families and the potential for the legacy of this to continue in our school communities today.
There is an exhibition at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, London about children who were sent to live in the UK from the Caribbean. The exhibition includes some first hand interviews with people who attended ESN schools and showcases some primary sources. It is showing at the BCA until September 9 2023.
Like, share and rate us 5 stars!
If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on unlearnsomethingpod@gmail.com, and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.
Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance
Show Notes (further reading)
BCA exhibition - Over a Barrel: Windrush Children, Tragedy and Triumph https://www.bcaexhibits.org/exhibits/over-a-barrel
Miss D -
BBC documentary 'Subnormal' https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000w81h/subnormal-a-british-scandal
Miss S -
Book about ESN schools in the UK 'How the West Indian Child is Made Educationally Sub-Normal in the British School System' by Bernard Coard
https://www.newbeaconbooks.com/black-british-fiction/a4wyiz9c6te8qqmndaeqldp9nte7rd
Small Axe: Education - Written and Dir by Sir Steve McQueen https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qfb1
Leigh Day Solicitors is working with clients affected by being misclassified as educationally subnormal and severly affected by their expereinces to achieve compensation for what happended to them. For more inforamtion contact fswaine@leighday.co.uk
If you have any comments or feedback to give us please email us on unlearnsomethingpod@gmail.com, and we will get back to you and (with your permission) read out your email on the show.
Music credit: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music?tag[]=spotlight&sort=relevance
You can sponsor the Unlearn Something Podcast by buying us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unlearnpod