The Importance of Encouraging Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Parents to Ascribe Their Ethnicity

Encouraging Gypsy, Roma and Traveller parents to ascribe their ethnicity when completing school admissions forms

Who are Gypsy Roma and Traveller children?

The term Gypsy Roma Traveller refers to a number of quite different communities who share some similar characteristics, predominantly a travelling lifestyle or history of a travelling lifestyle. Many Gypsy Roma and Travellers have ethnic minority status and are therefore protected under the Equality Act 2010. The main Traveller groups are:

 Romanichals (English Gypsies)  Showmen (Fairground Community)  Roma (Eastern European)  Irish Travellers  Welsh Gypsies  Scottish Gypsies  Circus Travellers  Bargees  New Age Travellers

Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers have been living in and visiting Essex for many generations.

Schools should regularly review their admission forms and procedures to ensure that it is made clear to Traveller parents that it is both possible and advantageous to ascribe their ethnicity as either Gypsy/Roma or Traveller of Irish Heritage. If parents do not ascribe their ethnicity, this means that it is not possible to track the achievement of all pupils in this potentially vulnerable group. A school cannot give a family Traveller status unless the parent has identified himself/herself as such.

Many families choose the equally accurate, but less contentious WBRI (White British), WIRI (White Irish), WEEU (White Eastern European), WEUR (White European) or WOTW (White Other). This is a recognised national issue with fewer pupils ascribed to the key categories for GRT pupils.

The benefits of identification lay in general improvements to the education system; the direct benefits to individuals may be outweighed by the disadvantages of being “out” as a target for racism.

There are many positive aspects to correct ethnic ascription for children, families, schools and the local authority. These include:

 sharing and celebrating home culture as part of the diverse mix of the school  dealing sensitively with the legacy of racism experienced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families  tracking the attainment of GRT pupils effectively – narrowing the gap and celebrating achievement  ensuring equality of opportunity

When schools encourage parents to ascribe their ethnicity, they should also assure parents that this information remains confidential to all but the few who need to know. While some families enjoy telling others about aspects of their culture during events such as Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month (www.grthm.co.uk ) others prefer to guard their privacy. Whole school exploration and celebration of pupils’ and teachers’ culture is therefore essential. Advice and guidance about the collection of ethnicity data can be found on the Essex School Infolink page: Data Collections

A key question to ask: Does the welcoming process in schools encourage openness of identity and is there provision for families changing their ascription as their relationship with the school develops?

School Census Codes

DfE Approved DfE Sub- Main Comments extended categories main category Category codes code WROM Gypsy / Roma WROM Gypsy / Roma White This category includes pupils who identify themselves as Gypsies and or Romanies, and or Travellers, and or Traditional Travellers, and or Romanichals, and or Romanichal Gypsies and or Welsh Gypsies / Kaale, and or Scottish Travellers / Gypsies, and or Roma. It includes all children of a Gypsy ethnic background or Roma ethnic background, irrespective of whether they are nomadic, semi nomadic or living in static accommodation. It should not include Fairground (Showman's) children; the children travelling with circuses; or the children of New Travellers or Bargees unless, of course, their ethnic status is that which is mentioned above. Schools would use this where they do not wish to identify Gypsy and Roma pupils separately WROG Gypsy WROM Gypsy/Roma White This category enables the separate identification of Gypsy pupils. Gypsy refers to: all pupils who identify themselves as Gypsies. This includes all children of a Gypsy ethnic background, irrespective of whether they are nomadic, semi- nomadic or living in static accommodation WROR Roma WROM Gypsy/Roma White This category identifies the separate identification of Roma pupils. Roma refers to: all pupils who identify themselves as Roma or Romany, part of a diverse community of related groups whose ancestors are believed to originate from the Indian sub-continent but who have more recently migrated from Central and Eastern Europe. Many Roma speak a form of dialect of the Romani language as their first language and for many this is in addition to their national language (eg Czech or Romanian). WROO Other WROM Gypsy/Roma White This category is for Gypsy/Roma who do not Gypsy/Roma identify with one or the other of the above pupils with mixed Gypsy/Roma heritage

WIRT Traveller of WIRT Traveller of White Irish heritage Irish heritage