Survey: October to December 2021 Release: February 2022 A report by Devon County Council – EMTAS
This report presents the personal experiences of Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and Showmen ethnicities, of primary and secondary education across Devon and the wider community. The survey was conducted via an online platform and received 126 responses. Findings highlighted some of the challenging experiences families have faced and shines a light on the impact this has on Traveller children accessing education in Devon. The report highlights where schools can improve their inclusion and awareness of the Traveller culture. The Traveller Movement’s ‘Barriers to Education –young Travellers in London, 2020’1 outlines that children from travelling communities are more likely to be excluded, have poor attendance, and achieve lower grades than their peers.
1.1 Key findings
Demographic
54% identified as being a Traveller or Gypsy and 16% identified as being Showmen ethnicity.
67% of families have up to 3 children.
Barriers to Education
44% of Travellers felt they weren’t able to register their ethnicity with schools.
58% feel that lack of schools understanding Traveller ways and communication as the main issue within education.
33% report that bullying and discrimination is the biggest barrier to Travellers accessing education.
47% of Traveller families withdrew their children from school for cultural reasons, including poor cultural understanding in schools. With 20% citing that bullying wasn’t being dealt with enough in the classroom.
61% of families would consider allowing their children to remain or return to school.
Wider Community
71% of responders say they have had support from Traveller Education or Traveller advisors.
53% of adults would not want to take part in a Traveller forum, with 65% of families saying that they don’t want their children to be part of such forums.
What do you see as the main barriers for primary children moving to secondary school?
‘It’s not a barrier it is our culture’
1.2 Recommendations
For Schools:
Support Traveller history month with a whole school approach.
Ensure that Travellers are included in the Schoolinclusion strategy.
Identify a ‘key worker’ to be a GRTS ambassador so that families can havemorepositive communication experiences.
Incorporate Traveller friendly resources in the curriculum.
Ensure anti-racism and equality policies to address the learning gap and experiences of bullying that Travellers face.
Review curriculums, identifying topics that cover sex, consent, mental health and drugs. Creating a strategy to alert Traveller parents prior to this content being delivered.
For Devon Education Services/Devon County Council
Training to be provided to early careers teachers, in order to promote cultural understanding.
Modern and relevant e-Learningcourse to be created for schoolsand settingsto receive further understanding and awareness of the Traveller culture.
Regular newsletter updates offering support to schools.
Supporting families who are or considering home education. Providing home education visits and support.
Empower families to raise concernswith their children’s schools.
Design a yearly newsletter for Traveller families.
Improve cross-border networking.
Background
Over 5000 Travellers registered their ethnicity in the 2011 Census for the South West. This makes Travellers the largest ethnicity in the area and we know that many other Travellers would not have completed the Census or divulged their ethnicity.
Devon County Council EMTAS has one Traveller advisory teacher, who supports Travellers in Devon and Torbay. This survey was conducted in order to direct resources, support and gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of Travellers. It also helps the service to inform schools in order to promote inclusion and raise learning outcomes.
Survey results
126 responses
What ethnicity does your family identify as?
How many school age children live in your home?
For those children in school, were you able to inform school of your ethnicity?
Which do you feel is the main education issue travellers face?
If you have decided to withdraw your child/children from school, what was the main reason?
Written responses, extraction of quotes:
‘Too scared to tell school we are circus ‘folk’ ‘The expectations like homework schools have don’t suit our lifestyle and culture’ ‘We kept our kids in school as the world is changing. It’s hard though as it’s not our tradition’ ‘Schools just don’t talk like we do…big school has so many teachers, we don’t know who to talk to’ ‘I removed my children from school because of bullying, discrimination and the lack of action taken by the school to address this.’
Reason
Percentage
Bullying/discrimination
19%
Cultural reasons
47%
Communication with school
34%
If your child wished to remain/return to school, would you support their choice?
What do you see as the main barriers for primary children moving to secondary school?
Written responses, extraction of quotes:
‘School expectations’ ‘Not included in school decisions. Never invited to be part of parent groups’ ‘Less communication from school. At primary you see the teacher on a daily basis, at secondary you don’t know who to go to’ ‘Bullying and having to work with lots of other teachers. We can’t talk to them all’ ‘Schools need a proper person who knows our ways so they can stay in contact’ ‘Schools are not flexible and don’t include our lives in their ways’ ‘Schools have no understanding of our culture, just what they see on the tv. They are quick to say we are aggressive even though I am not shouting or in their face. It’s how they think we are that makes them think that so easily’ ‘Subjects taught (sex education) and Discrimination. Bullying and other children not understanding the traveller culture.’ ‘There is no choice in what we want our children to choose for example sex education and things that we don’t agree with the school however they don’t take into account our feelings around this. They follow a book and not each individual child and family.’
Reason
Percentage
Cultural reasons/tradition
22%
School awareness/communication/subjects being taught
64%
Bullying
14%
Have you had any support with a GRT (Gypsy, Romany and Traveller) advisor or Traveller Education?
What more can we do to support you further?
Written responses extraction:
‘Teach schools how to communicate better’ ‘More home education support’ ‘Spread more information so we know the service exists’ ‘Educate schools so that they know calling Travellers names is racism…and what topics only we want to teach them’
Would you like to be part of a traveller forum, an opportunity to discuss relevant issues? This does not record your name but provides information on the number who would take part.
Would you support your child in taking part in children’s events (such as online forums, meet and greet and local events)? This does not record your name but provides information on the number who would take part.
4. Appendix
4.1 Other
Survey questions
Q1. What ethnicity does your family identify as? Q2. How many school age children live in your home? Q3. For those children in school, were you able to inform school of your ethnicity? Q4. Which do you feel is the main education issue travellers face? Q5. If you have decided to withdraw your child/children from school, what was the main reason? Q6. If your child wished to remain/return to school would you support their choice?Q7. What do you see as the main barriers for primary children moving to secondary school? Q8. Have you had any support with a GRT (Gypsy, Romany and Traveller) advisor or Traveller Education? Q9. What more can we do to support you further? Q10. Would you like to be part of a traveller forum, an opportunity to discuss relevant issues? This does not record your name but provides information on the number who would take part. Q11. Would you support your child in taking part in children’s events (such as online forums, meet and greet and local events)? This does not record your name but provides information on the number who would take part. Q12. Any additional Comments:
GRTS’s experiences of education – understanding travellers’ experiences of Primary and Secondary Education
Summary
This report presents the personal experiences of Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and Showmen ethnicities, of primary and secondary education across Devon and the wider community. The survey was conducted via an online platform and received 126 responses. Findings highlighted some of the challenging experiences families have faced and shines a light on the impact this has on Traveller children accessing education in Devon. The report highlights where schools can improve their inclusion and awareness of the Traveller culture.
Key Findings
Demographic
54% identified as being a Traveller or Gypsy and 16% identified as being Showmen ethnicity.
67% of families have up to 3 children.
Barriers to Education
44% of Travellers felt they weren’t able to register their ethnicity with schools.
58% feel that lack of schools understanding Traveller ways and communication as the main issue within education.
33% report that bullying and discrimination is the biggest barrier to Travellers accessing education.
47% of Traveller families withdrew their children from school for cultural reasons, including poor cultural understanding in schools. With 20% citing that bullying wasn’t being dealt with enough in the classroom.
61% of families would consider allowing their children to remain or return to school.
Wider Community
71% of responders say they have had support from Traveller Education or Traveller advisors
53% of adults would not want to take part in a Traveller forum, with 65% of families saying that they don’t want their children to be part of such forums
Recommendations
For Schools:
Support Traveller history month with a whole school approach.
Ensure that Travellers are included in the School inclusion strategy.
Identify a ‘key worker’ to be a GRTS ambassador so that families can have more positive communication experiences.
Incorporate Traveller friendly resources in the curriculum.
Ensure anti-racism and equality policies to address the learning gap and experiences of bullying that Travellers face.
Review curriculums, identifying topics that cover sex, consent, mental health and drugs. Creating a strategy to alert Traveller parents prior to this content being delivered.
For Devon Education Services/Devon County Council
Training to be provided to early careers teachers, in order to promote cultural understanding.
Modern and relevant e-Learning course to becreated for schools and settings to receive further understanding and awareness of the Traveller culture.
Regularnewsletter updates offering support to schoolsand a yearly newsletter to Traveller families.
Supporting families who are or considering home education. Providing home education visits and support.
Empower families to raise concerns with their children’s schools.
How many school age children live in your home?
How many school age children live in your home?
