‘Educationally Subnormal’ Scandal
I have been involved in the long-running fight for justice for survivors of the ‘educationally subnormal’ (ESN) scandal. Two years after first bringing this issue to Parliament, I have once again stood with survivors to demand truth and accountability.
At Prime Minister’s Questions in March, I directly challenged the government to commit to a public inquiry to deliver justice for those affected.
I asked the Prime Minister:
This year marks 40 years since the Swann report exposed systemic racism and discrimination in the education system. Regrettably, none of its recommendations was recommended. One of the most damning injustices in the report was the misclassification of mainly black children as educationally subnormal, as identified in Steve McQueen’s BBC documentary. Given the historic nature of this and the impact it had on so many, will the Prime Minister consider a public inquiry to provide justice and recompense for those who have been affected?
Working alongside Leigh Day Solicitors, I also hosted a major event in Parliament titled ‘Justice for Educationally Subnormal Survivors – Racism in Education: From Coard and Beyond’. The event brought together an incredible panel, including Bernard Coard, Leslie Thomas KC, Professor Christine Callender, Dr. Cynthia Pinto, and members of No More Exclusions – Roger King and Sara Bafo.
Justice for Educationally Subnormal Survivors – Racism in Education: From Coard and Beyond Event in Parliament
Most importantly, we heard the powerful testimonies of ESN survivors Noel Gordon, Maisie Barrett, Rene Stevens, and Denise Davidson, who shared their painful experiences of being misclassified and denied opportunities due to systemic racism.
This powerful event was followed up by an adjournment debate in March 2025 – you can watch my full adjournment debate on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/qKxivqRC2Cs?feature=shared
You can also read the full debate here: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2025-0312c.1230.0&s=speaker%3A25803#g1233.1
The ESN scandal robbed Black children of their futures, mislabelling them as ‘educationally subnormal’ not because of any lack of ability, but because of racism. Today, the legacy of educational racism still persists – from the disproportionate use of Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) and Alternative Provision for Black children to the school-to-prison pipeline that continues to marginalise too many young people.
We cannot allow history to repeat itself. No child should ever again be failed by an education system that should empower, not exclude. The fight for truth and justice continues, and I will keep pushing for systemic change.