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What is ascription?
You should be asked to ascribe when your child first starts attending school. Schools have to ask all parents to do this by law. When you ascribe, you are asked to say what ethnic group best matches your family. Sometimes you will be asked to do this by choosing a box to tick on a form.
Gypsy, Roma or Traveller heritage
If your family is of Gypsy, Roma or Traveller heritage, you might choose to tick one of these boxes:
- WBRI White British
- WROM White Roma
- WIRT White Irish Traveller
- WOTH White Other
The decision which box to tick is yours to make and school cannot tick a box for you without you knowing.
Apart from teachers, school can’t tell anyone which box you ticked either as the information is confidential.
Showmen
If you are a Showmen family, you might choose WBRI or WOTH and then write “Showmen” on the form, so the school knows yours is a Showmen family.
You should also know that you don’t have to give the information to school at all.
There is another box to tick if you refuse: REFU Refuse
What’s in it for your family?
If you tick either WROM or WIRT, or if you tell the school you are a Showmen family, then you will be able to:
✓ Dual register your child/children at two schools. This can be helpful if you spend the summer season living and working elsewhere and you want your child to carry on attending school whilst you’re away. Dual registration means your child will have a place at the same school each year.
✓ Use the T code to authorise your child’s absences from school due to travelling for work purposes.
✓ Access support from Devon’s Ethnically Diverse Education Achievement Service for support relating to your child’s education.
Useful websites and contacts
- DCC EDEAS home page
- Consultancy, training and workshops: Devon Education Services Shop