Parents’ anger at ‘divisive’ primary school science homework that ‘excludes white men’

The homework recommends a list of scientists worth considering, which does not feature any white men. On its list of scientists to “avoid”, it lists Albert Einstein, Louis Pasteur and Stephen Hawking.

A parent with a pupil at the school told GB News: “This science homework has nothing to do with science at all. It was purely a means of pushing their divisive message on race, and insulting and belittling a whole group of people based on their appearance.

“Why are white men pushed off the curriculum?”

Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, director of grassroots campaign group Don’t Divide Us, said: “Coldfall is reducing science to a question of ethnic identity and social and political power. This is a travesty.”

She added: “These pupils aren’t getting science, they’re getting a reductive version of the sociology of science, which removes the wonder and power of science and inculcates kids to accept a racial version of everything.”

Last month it was revealed that the school urged its pupils to take a controversial anti-racism pledge.

The pledge starts with the motto “Intent does not supersede impact.”

Among other commitments, the pledge asks children to be “actively anti-racist.”

The pledge was developed by the school’s Inclusion and Anti-Racism Group (IARG). It is displayed in all classrooms.

On the school’s website, it claims that it is being supported by an external consultant that delivers “inclusion, belonging and anti-racism training within the education sector.”

Mpula Lawton, founder of the ARISE (Anti-Racism in Schools Education) consultancy, reportedly delivered training to staff at the school. Prices for Lawton’s anti-racism training start at £450 for a 60-90-minute session.

The school claims on its website that it has been working with Mpula Lawton from ARISE to ensure that it was an actively anti-racist school.

In communication with parents, Coldfall said that it organised staff training on unconscious bias with Lawton. In its Inclusion and Anti-Racism newsletter, it added that it organised workshops for years 5 and 6 with ARISE.

According to the school’s website, Lawton also led a BAME (Black Asian and Minority Ethnic) parents and carers meeting

Lawton told GB News that she did not deliver unconscious bias training, adding: “I don’t deliver anything that is age inappropriate, from the age of 4 to 18 we talk about being nice to each other. I don’t think that any of my material or training is controversial.”

In correspondence to all parents last February seen by this broadcaster, the head of the school’s IARG said the pledge will be “signed by all classes in the school.”

Last month, Coldfall made headlines after it was revealed that the school was receiving council-funded extra weekend classes for children from black backgrounds.

The Telegraph reported that schools in Haringey and Enfield could enrol pupils at classes at the Nia Academy.

The academy was launched by non-profit organisation the Haringey Education Partnership.

The school called in an independent investigator after parents complained, but they dismissed the complaint.

One parent said that the extra classes were discriminatory because educational attainment for disadvantaged groups is lower for white British pupils than the other main ethnic groups across the country.

Haringey Council defended its “targeted programmes” to support black pupils, adding that white British pupils outperform black African and black Caribbean pupils in the borough.

The school said that it was trying to “accelerate progress in reading and writing while also developing [black] children’s knowledge of black history and culture.”

A parent with a child at Coldfall Primary School told GB News: “The anti-racism pledge was introduced by the school with no consultation with parents. I am annoyed that the headteacher thinks it’s ok to push his personal politics like this without even mentioning it to parents.

“It is simply not the business of the school to push a social justice agenda and to force kids to take a loyalty oath to a set of political beliefs.”

They added: “Too much focus is being put on race. It is only going to make kids hyper aware of differences, which is going to make them nervous about mixing with other children.”

Coldfall Primary School did not respond to our requests for comment.