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Introducing the GTC Networks.
Good teaching needs good networks and good networks need good teachers.
The GTC Networks provide support by linking teachers nationally and putting them in touch with the latest research and evidence. They let teachers have a voice at national debates on changes to education.
Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is one of the largest social policy research and development charities in the UK. The Foundation has commissioned and published major research into a range of social issues including young ethnic minority groups.
This is an unparalleled resource for teachers and those working with young people, especially as the research on the JRF website is highly accessible. We have presented only two findings from each research paper, but you can read the full set of findings on the JRF website.
This list does not include all the research from the JRF that would be relevant to teachers and those working with young people – for reasons of brevity we have stopped at research published before 2002.
Children's perspectives on believing and belonging (14 July 2005)
Two key findings:
- Religious and ethnic labels are used interchangeably by children as markers of racial difference, underlining how the categories of ethnicity and religion overlap.
- School is one of the few places where children from different religions and ethnic backgrounds meet regularly.
www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/0375.asp
The experiences of young care leavers from different ethnic groups (8 July 2005)
Two key findings:
- White young people fared the worst in terms of placement instability, early departure from care, poor educational outcomes, homelessness and risk taking behaviour, including criminal activity and drug use.
- Asylum-seeking young people demonstrated considerable resilience and determination and were reported to be doing particularly well in education.
www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/0285.asp
Young Bangladeshi people's experience of transition to adulthood in Newcastle (20 April 2005)
Two key findings:
- Bangladeshi’s are relatively new immigrants to Britain and experience high levels of poverty, underachievement at school and social exclusion.
- Bangladeshi parents have high expectation of their children, which contrasts with the low expectations of teachers.
www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/0195.asp
Challenging and changing racist attitudes and behaviour in young people (16 March 2005)
Two key findings:
- A significant minority of young people expressed dislike of other groups. Prominent in those disliked were asylum-seekers and refugees. Other groups mentioned were: 'Portuguese', 'Asians', 'Muslims', 'black people', 'Afghanistanis', 'Iraqis' and 'white English'/'white British'.
- Projects looking at challenging and changing racist attitudes benefited from having well-defined objectives, a clear structure, a range of inputs, sustained activities over a period of time and a focus on encouraging reflection on personal attitudes and experiences.
www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/0135.asp
Young Turks and Kurds: a set of 'invisible' disadvantaged groups (16 February 2005)
Two key findings:
- Truancy and exclusion from school are problems for Turkish-speaking young people, especially the Kurds, nearly a quarter of whom in the sample had been excluded.
- Few of the Turkish-speaking young people in the survey have many qualifications to help them in the labour market.
www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/0075.asp
Mentoring for vulnerable young people in Scotland (16 March 2004)
Two key findings:
- Most young people found the experience a positive one, contributing to their confidence, skills and development in a number of ways.
- Young people particularly valued mentors who shared and were willing to discuss similar backgrounds and experiences.
www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/324.asp
Peer support groups and young black and minority ethnic disabled and deaf people (10 July 2002)
Two key findings:
- Peer support is important to all young people, but previous research has shown that young Asian, Caribbean and African disabled and young deaf people have limited knowledge of where to get this support.
- Many of the young people described feeling bored and lonely, and not being able to spend time with people who really understood them. Being part of a group was a chance to change this.
www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialcare/762.asp
South Asian young disabled people and their families (10 July 2002)
Two key findings:
- South Asian young people's experiences of disability had important similarities with those described by their white peers.
- Young people generally described loving and supportive family relationships, although their families sometimes had low expectations of what they could do and were overprotective, particularly towards young women.
www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialcare/742.asp
Providing better access to short breaks for black disabled children and their parents (23 May 2002)
Two key findings:
- Disabled children's services do not adequately cater for black children, and services for black and minority ethnic groups do not adequately cater for disabled children. This means that black disabled children 'fall through the net'.
- A shortage of black social workers and short-break carers means that services cannot adequately represent the communities they serve.
www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialcare/582.asp
The needs of excluded young people in multicultural communities (6 February 2002)
Two key findings:
- Many 16 to 17 year olds who are disengaged from education, employment and training are unknown to the Careers Service and a disproportionate number of these are from minority ethnic groups.
- Local voluntary sector agencies were often the only agencies in contact with these young people and their help was greatly appreciated. This was particularly true of those from minority ethnic groups.
www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialcare/212.asp
