Teacher felt ‘worthless’ after facing discrimination – as report warns racism is harming profession
A teacher who faced discrimination from senior staff at her former college has told Sky News how she was left feeling “worthless” and “suicidal”.
It comes after a report by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) warned racism, discrimination and the lack of opportunities for promotion are damaging the teaching profession and driving away staff from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The charity also warned that retention was significantly lower for teachers of ethnic minority backgrounds than for their white peers.
Sky News spoke to Betty Knight, a teacher who faced discrimination at her former college in Alton, Hampshire.
She was put on an improvement plan after an unannounced 25-minute lesson observation, which was against the college’s own policy, and despite her excellent results.
Betty Knight fought – and won – a discrimination case against her former college
In 2023, Ms Knight – the only black teacher at the college at the time – took her employer to court and won. But it took a toll on her health.
“At that time, to be honest with you, I felt really suicidal. I felt like, you know, worthless, but I had to pull myself together for my students, so they didn’t have to see me in that way.”
She doesn’t feel like she can return to teaching after this experience.
‘I feel like an outsider’
Ms Knight said: “They wanted to shut me down and break me and [they] did… because they changed who I was. I was a very outgoing person. Now I’m a different person. I don’t go out now.
“I just feel very much like an outsider, which I never did. I just feel like I don’t belong here.”
A Havant & South Downs College spokesperson said: “The tribunal found that an email communication sent amounted to harassment related to the claimant’s race.
“We apologised to Ms Knight for that act and any distress caused.
“The college values its employees highly, and always endeavours to treat them fairly and equitably.”
Jack Worth from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) is behind the research.
Ethnic minority teachers ‘vastly underrepresented’
Jack Worth, school workforce lead at the NFER, said: “People from ethnic minority backgrounds are vastly underrepresented in the teaching workforce, particularly at senior leadership level.
“That’s down to a range of factors, including disparities in progression, all the way from applications to initial teacher training, to teacher retention, to the way that head teachers are appointed.”
Teaching suffers from large disparities among certain ethnic groups
Lack of opportunities to progress
According to the charity’s research, reasons for people leaving the profession include “overt and covert racial discrimination from staff, pupils and parents”.
The NFER also suggests that teachers from ethnic minority backgrounds leave due to “a lack of opportunities for progression”.
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Evelyn Forde, a former headteacher, who is also black, said: “Black and Asian leaders… we do have the credentials, but too often we’re not given those opportunities.
“I turned the school from ‘Requires Improvement’ [a ranking by Ofsted inspectors] to ‘Good’ and achieved accolades, which proves that we can do this job.
“Three per cent of headteachers are from a black or Asian background, where we are a minority, and that comes with its own challenges.”
Evelyn Forde says she suffered discrimination while seeking promotion
A spokesperson from the Department for Education said: “These accounts are deeply distressing, and we are clear that racism and discrimination have absolutely no place in our schools, nor in society.
“Issues around diversity, recruitment and retention have been neglected for too long, and we are working hard to recruit teachers from lots of different backgrounds.
“That’s why we are removing barriers to applying for initial teacher training and offering tax-free bursaries and scholarships for trainees teaching key subjects.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK
Lucy Letby suggested she could give “tips” to a colleague on how to get away with murder, a public inquiry has heard.
The child serial killer exchanged WhatsApp messages in 2017 with union rep Hayley Griffiths about the US legal drama How To Get Away With Murder.
The discussion took place a year after the neonatal nurse was moved to clerical duties at the Countess of Chester Hospital following concerns she may have been deliberately harming babies.
In a message to Letby, Ms Griffiths wrote: “I’m currently watching a programme called how to get away with murder. I’m learning some good tips.”
Letby replied: “I could have given you some tips x”
Ms Griffiths said: “I need someone to practice on to see if I can get away with it.”
Letby wrote: “I can think of two people you could practice on and will help you cover it up x”
Ms Griffiths replied: “Deal. I will get thinking of a plan. Get the cruise booked as our getaway.”
The pair were working in the hospital’s risk and patient safety department a year before Letby was arrested on suspicion of multiple murders by Cheshire Police.
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How the police caught Lucy Letby
Ms Griffiths said she was aware of the concerns of foul play and the connection to Letby by September 2016.
Shahram Sharghy, representing some of the families of Letby’s victims, asked: “Given the severity of the allegations that were made, and would you agree they are possibly the most serious allegations that anybody could make against a healthcare professional, were you making light of those allegations when you were referring to potentially committing a crime?”
Ms Griffiths answered: “No.”
Mr Sharghy asked: “Can you even begin to imagine and put yourself in the position of the families of the babies who were harmed when they see those messages?”
Ms Griffiths said: “I know… I am so remorseful. As soon as I saw them myself I was upset and I can’t begin to imagine… I can only apologise and say I have learned. I can’t go back in time but I have reflected absolutely on it.”
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Earlier, Ms Griffiths told counsel to the inquiry Rachel Langdale KC: “It was nothing more than a conversation. However, I truly and deeply regret having started that conservation… this is completely unprofessional, poor judgement on my behalf and completely insensitive. And for that, I can only apologise from the bottom of my heart.”
Letby, 34, from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole-life orders.
She was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder six others between June 2015 and June 2016.
The Thirlwall Inquiry into the events surrounding her crimes is expected to sit until early 2015. The findings are expected by late autumn that year.
UK
Newcastle: Three men arrested in connection with deadly house explosion and on suspicion of cannabis production
Three men have been arrested in connection with a deadly house explosion in Newcastle.
Seven-year-old Archie York and Jason Laws, who was in his 30s, were killed following the blast in Violet Close, in the Benwell and Elswick area of the city in October.
Police said at the time that six others were taken to hospital “with varying injuries” after the blast and subsequent fire.
Three men – two in their 30s and one in his 50s – have been arrested on suspicion of two counts of manslaughter, and the production of a Class B drug, namely cannabis, Northumbria Police said.
They all remain in police custody.
Detective Chief Inspector Katie Smith said: “This has been a truly tragic incident which resulted in the loss of two lives.
“As a result of our ongoing enquiries, three men have today been arrested in connection with the explosion.
“Our investigation will remain ongoing as we seek to provide answers to what has happened.
“We would continue to ask people to avoid speculation surrounding this incident both online and in the community.”
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From October: Deadly blast destroys Newcastle house
The blast tore through a row of six properties divided into two flats each.
Drone footage showed how six flats in the middle of the building appeared to have been completely destroyed by the explosion and fire, while piles of debris could be seen in the street outside.
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Superintendent Darren Adams, from Northumbria Police, said on the day of the fire: “As a result of the incident in the early hours of this morning, a seven-year-old boy has sadly passed away.
“Despite the efforts of the emergency services, he tragically died at the scene.
“This is a truly devastating outcome.”
Prince William has given an update on the Princess of Wales’s health, describing her as “amazing”.
Ahead of tonight’s Earthshot Prize awards in Cape Town, he was asked how his wife Kate was doing and replied: “She’s doing really well thanks. Hopefully she’s watching tonight and cheering me on.
“She’s been amazing this whole year and I know she’ll be really keen to see tonight be a success.”
Kate revealed in March she was having preventative chemotherapy following the discovery of pre-cancerous cells.
In September, she announced she had completed her treatment and said her focus now is on “staying cancer free”.
Throughout the year, Prince William hasn’t discussed his wife’s diagnosis, despite still continuing with his own public duties.
William and Kate at a community engagement last month. Pic: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace
William answered questions after taking part in rehearsals for tonight’s Earthshot Awards, the environmental prize he launched in 2021 to try to inject some optimism into the climate crisis debate.
Since he’s been in Cape Town he’s been spotted wearing a bracelet with the word ‘papa’ on it, given to him by his daughter Princess Charlotte.
He explained: “This is a relic from a Taylor Swift concert that my daughter decided that she wanted to create a bracelet for, and she gave it to me when I came away so I’ve promised her that I’d wear it and try not to lose it while I was out here.”
He also shared how he’s trying to make sure his three children feel involved in his environmental work, including doing things around the house.
The Prince of Wales in Cape Town today. Pic: PA
The prince said: “Every family tries to do what they can to help with the environment and we go through the basics of recycling and making sure we minimise water use, turning lights off when you leave the house. We’re sensible with what we do around the environment. I think every family has those conversations.
“The Earthshot is trying to be more global than that – we’re trying to do big-scale ambition and business. I’ve brought the children along on that journey and I hope they’re proud of what we are trying to do here which is to galvanise that energy and enthusiasm to make real impact.”
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Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Asked about the tough political climate for the environment right now, Prince William didn’t make any comment about the US election result and Donald Trump’s climate credentials, but said: “Everyone wants some hope and some optimism and Earthshot comes with urgent optimism.
“And as you’ll see tonight the amount of youth from Africa who will be in here – they’ll be letting you know and letting everyone know that it matters to them.
“Without them, the future is looking pretty bleak so these are the game changers, the innovators, the inventors who are going to make the world a better place for us in future.”
The annual Earthshot Prize awards five entrepreneurs, innovators, startups or conservationists with £1m each to help scale their ideas to tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues.
This is the fourth year the awards have been held.
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