Event to celebrate Bristol students' achievements

The achievements of black and ethnic minority school children will be celebrated at a special event next week.

The one-day conference will take place at the University of the West of England on Friday, July 10 and focuses on 30 Year 10 pupils from the Bristol region.

The pupils have been taking part in a work shadowing initiative, to raise aspirations and give guidance and information about pursuing careers in teaching.

This initiative aims to address the under- representation of ethnic minority people in professions such as teaching, through providing short course training at UWE followed by placement in the relevant area.

The conference will allow the young people to hear from speakers such as the writer and actor Kwame Kwei Armah, UWE Governor and TV presenter Sherrie Eugene and Professor David Johnson of Oxford University.

All the student shadowees will receive a certificate of participation.

Conference organiser Dr Marie-Annick Gournet said: "It is recognised that our teaching workforce needs to reflect the diverse ethnic and cultural make up of society.

"Although children and young people from BME groups in Bristol schools represent about 24 per cent of the population, the teaching workforce has less than four per cent of teachers from BME groups.

"This project aims to provide the young people with a picture of what it takes to successfully have a job in this profession."

The conference will be held on UWE's Frenchay Campus on Friday 10 July from 9am until 4.30pm.