Presidential Seminar Series: Anti-racism and education in Wales: a National Approach. What now? What next?

BERA Four Nations Presidential Seminar Series will be held in Wales on May 1st, 2025. Through an anti-racist lens, this day will connect policy makers, academic researchers and leaders in practice to explore theoretical perspectives, examine policy development and plan for next steps in Wales and beyond. Our session will be situated in The Senedd, Cardiff Bay / Docklands; a poignant space to explore Welsh policy, practice and research centred around the formation and impactful endeavours of a pan-Wales anti-racist movement called DARPL (Diversity Anti-racist practice and professional learning).

The World looks into Wales, holding high expectations for an anti-racist nation by 2030 through the implementation of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan (ARWAP). The rising expectation and temperature for racial literacy, Cynefin completeness and ethical global citizen anticipations within the Curriculum for Wales is at the core of DARPL’s work.

Through keynotes, panel discussions and lightening talks from the field in education, childcare and playwork we have set out the seminar to consider traditions in Welsh race-consciousness which, in 2021, led to Wales becoming the first nation in the UK to make the teaching of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (Welsh and global) history mandatory within the Curriculum for Wales.

DARPL’s work spans education, childcare, playwork and is funded by the Welsh Government. The work takes a national approach to lead and enable affective professional learning cascades and implementation across the education system tiers. DARPL comprises a dynamic and diverse Community of Practice based within Cardiff Metropolitan University which draws together lived and professional experience. Working with grassroots organisations and unusual community focused innovation this Welsh movement is dismantling and reshaping the landscape in regional and national policy influence, practice and academic research. Drawing on lessons learnt, DARPL’s work is heading into the wider public sector.

Register here: Presidential Seminar Series: Anti-racism and education in Wales: a National Approach. What now? What next? | BERA