Hampshire Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS)

Data collection

Ascription training by EMTAS advises schools on 'ascription'. Further information can be seen on the Department for Education website about collecting data. EMTAS has produced a PowerPoint on Ensuring a Smooth and Effective Admission Process for Pupils Microsoft PowerPoint 331kb used in the training sessions.

Why collect data on ethnic minorities?

Government priorities

The Government, through the DCSF, aims to raise ethnic minority achievement and improve Race Relations. OfSTED inspectors will also be looking for improvements in this area.

National and local level priorities

The data is used at national level to monitor levels of achievement and enable the government to set meaningful targets, set funding formula and identify future strategies. The data is used locally by the LEA to make comparisons, allow cross checking for trends in attendance, gender and free school meals and will be used by the Hampshire Ethnic Minority & Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS) to target ethnic minority achievement more effectively.

Benefits to schools

It enables both schools and Hampshire EMTAS to accurately identify and monitor achievement and areas for improvement by ethnicity, ensuring all pupils achieve their full potential. This is a necessary requirement of OfSTED inspections; the DfES; and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

How should the information be obtained from parents?

As the majority of parents/pupils have now completed a form, schools will only need to collect the information from 'new arrivals' and all new Year R admissions.

Information can be sought from parents either at the admission meeting (but after confirmation of the child's place at the school) or by letter, if no suitable meeting with parents takes place. The DCSF have produced forms, letters to parents and explanatory leaflets for schools to use as models, on their website, in a range of languages. Once completed, the form should be returned to the school. You can view a collection form in English on the DCSF website.

The reception office is usually the first contact for parents and pupils who may be apprehensive about coming to school in a new country and perhaps do not speak any English, so it is important to give as much assistance as possible. Hampshire EMTAS is aware that admin staff and teachers may find it difficult to help parents identify their ethnic background and has produced some advice to help.

It is essential to ensure that the collection of ethnicity is embedded into the school administration system for new entrants to primary education, plus older pupils transferring from an independent school or a school outside England.

How will the data be collected by Hampshire Local Authority (LA)?

Data will be collected through the Annual Schools Census in January each year. School information management software has been programmed only to accept specific ethnic categories, which gives a more accurate collection.