Why Britain needs more black headteachers

The more black headteachers there are, the more it encourages black teachers and pupils to aim high

In 1974, I wanted to be a reporter on Tomorrow's World, the hugely successful BBC TV programme that explained the science behind innovative technology. I didn't believe that I would get the chance as I had hardly ever seen a black person on TV at the time. So I mistakenly parked my ambition, lowered my aspirations and set about looking for something else to do.

I believe that the need for role models is a case that has been well made; whether it is to encourage women into new roles, or do something like help to integrate disabled people into mainstream positions. Just watching boys in the playground emulating the goal celebrations (and other less desirable practices) of their football heroes reiterates the power of what we see to influence us. As a pupil I only ever had one black teacher and that was Mr Coppin, a chemistry teacher. The coincidence that I ended up having the same job as the only black male professional person I encountered in my youth, hasn't escaped me. This experience influenced me when I reflected on whether we need black headteachers.

The reason we might specifically need black headteachers is because the situation as it stands suggests that there are some aspects of our schooling which are deficient and in order to address this we need to make that change. So are there deficiencies? Well yes. There has been a large body of research and intervention aimed at addressing the underachievement of black students, boys in particular. In recent years the gap in performance between black and white students has narrowed, but it still exists. But do black headteachers offer something that white headteachers don't?

Being black will not guarantee that you are a good headteacher, or role model for black students. What is far more important is that you are effective and have the necessary skills, knowledge and stamina to fulfil an increasingly demanding role. Being black and the right candidate is what is required.

Appointments based on someone's ethnicity is not something I would advocate. But if you are a good black headteacher you are a black role model, not just a role model for the black students, but for everyone in your local community. A headteacher has to work with an endless list of individuals, groups and agencies. Within each of these interactions is the unspoken statement that people who are black can successfully fulfil this role. A message that I feel needs to be more widely conveyed.

One audience that would be profoundly affected by the presence of a black headteacher are black teachers themselves. Even the most talented individual will not achieve their potential if they don't aim high. I believe that many black teachers do not even attempt to reach the next stage on the career ladder because of the belief that they will not be appointed.

Having a black headteacher says that in this school, in this local education authority we recognise the skill, knowledge, talent and potential of all suitable candidates for headship, including black men. This does not automatically mean that local education authorities without black headteachers don't want them, or won't appoint them. But potential candidates are less likely to even try to be appointed if there is no precedent of a black person ever fulfilling that role in a particular area. This assertion is based on my experience as a teacher and a recruitment consultant.

I am currently a deputy headteacher having successfully worked in schools for nearly 20 years. I want to be a headteacher. I now have role models generous enough to act as mentors, Sir Keith Ajegbo and Sir William Atkinson, both black headteachers knighted for their work in education. Education is changing, but the slow pace of change may mean many people do not get the opportunities they could have. As recent studies have shown, were I to be appointed to the role of headteacher I would be only the 31st, out of the 21,600 state schools in this country!

In 2000, I entered and won the BBC Talent nationwide search for a presenter for Tomorrow's World. I beat 11,000 people to achieve that aim, 26 years after I conceived it. I believe I was the only black male reporter in its 30-year history. I didn't let the odds deter me then, I won't now. I encourage every other black male teacher out there to do the same.

David Bromfield is a secondary headteacher in an all-boys school in London

Article courtesy Guardian coment is free.

Picture: Sir William Atkinson