By Gavin Mackintosh-
Schools whose pupils come from a single ethnic or religious community may be compelled to mix with children from other backgrounds, under Government proposals to encourage social integration.
The proposed Integrated Communities Strategy will require schools to teach “British values” .It also plans to boost English language skills and encourage women from minority communities to find jobs.
A consultation paper on the plans – launched by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid with the backing of £50 million of Government money accompanies the 2016 Casey Review. The review warned that social cohesion cannot be taken for granted in the multicultural UK
Mr Javid said: “Britain can rightly claim to be one of the most successful diverse societies in the world. But we cannot ignore the fact that in too many parts of our country, communities are divided, preventing people from taking full advantage of the opportunities that living in modern Britain offers.
“Successive governments have refused to deal with the integration challenges we face head on, preferring to let people muddle along and live isolated and separated lives.
“We will put an end to this through our new strategy which will create a country that works for everyone, whatever their background and wherever they come from.”
The new strategies are to be tested in pilot areas including Blackburn, Bradford, Peterborough, Walsall and the London borough of Waltham Forest – will develop local integration plans allowing new strategies to be tested as the programme develops.
Mr Javid’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is seeking responses to proposed initiatives set out in a new green paper.
High among the proposals is a new community-based English language programme with a network of conversation clubs and support for councils to improve provision of tuition
Personalised skills training to help women from “isolated”communities ge tinto work.
Mr Javid said: “Britain can rightly claim to be one of the most successful diverse societies in the world. But we cannot ignore the fact that in too many parts of our country, communities are divided, preventing people from taking full advantage of the opportunities that living in modern Britain offers.
“Successive governments have refused to deal with the integration challenges we face head on, preferring to let people muddle along and live isolated and separated lives.
“We will put an end to this through our new strategy which will create a country that works for everyone, whatever their background and wherever they come from.”
Five pilot areas – Blackburn, Bradford, Peterborough, Walsall and the London borough of Waltham Forest – will develop local integration plans allowing new strategies to be tested as the programme develops.
Mr Javid’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is seeking responses to proposed initiatives set out in a new green paper.
