A new exhibition in Southall is exploring the experiences of black and South Asian children who were sent to schools outside their communities under a controversial education policy.

The ‘bussing out’ scheme, which was in place from the 1960s until the early 1980s, was intended to improve integration by limiting the number of immigrant children in schools to than 30%.

The borough of Ealing was one of only 11 areas across the UK to adopt the policy, with pupils being transported from Southall to other parts of the borough, including Northolt, Greenford and North Ealing.

Many of those affected faced racism, bullying, and disrupted education after being moved away from their local schools.

Immersive exhibition experience

The Bussing Out art installation, which opened at Southall’s 4 June Dominion Centre is based on research by Dr Shabina Aslam and includes memories from people who experienced bussing out as children. Southall is the only venue in London that is hosting the exhibition as part of a national tour.

Visitors to the immersive exhibition can sit inside a recreated 1970s-style bus to experience an 18‑minute recreation of a journey to school based on real accounts from children who were bussed out in Bradford, where the exhibition was created.

Through audio, film, animation, and black-and-white photographs displayed in the bus windows, visitors will hear memories from those affected by bussing out, alongside recordings of young passengers talking on their last day of school.

Shabina said: “It is fantastic to take Bussing Out around the country. When people have experienced the installation, they are shocked and surprised that something like that could have happened.”

Real-life stories

Some people told Shabina that they were left hungry at school because there was no Halal food available for them to eat at lunchtime.

She added: “Some boys had a particularly hard time and were beaten up. Children were often late getting to school, so it was obvious they were different and had to leave early. One person remembers that the during story time the bus monitor would come round and say, ‘can I have all the immigrants please’ and all the little black and brown children would stand up and follow her out of the room. So even if they didn’t feel different before they came to that school, they did whilst they were there.”

The national tour has been made possible with funding from Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

School children from around the borough will visit the Dominion Centre to learn about this divisive period in local history. The exhibition is open to visitors until 27 June. Admission is free, but it is not recommended for children under the age of 8.

Bussing out came to an end in the borough in 1981 after a campaign by Southall residents and the Indian Workers’ Association.

‘Recognising the strength of communities’

Council leader Peter Mason visited the exhibition this week. He said: “The bussing of children from Southall was a shameful chapter in our borough’s history, and it’s vital that we continue to tell these stories and learn from them.

“This powerful exhibition gives people the chance to hear directly from those affected, helping us to better understand the past. This is also an opportunity to recognise the strength of the communities who fought for change. Today, the borough’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths and something we are proud of. Our schools are inclusive and high-achieving and we will keep working to ensure every child gets the best possible start in life.”

Councillor Lauren Wall, the council’s cabinet member for thriving communities, was also at the opening of the exhibition. She said: “This exhibition is a deeply moving way to understand a part of our borough’s history that should never be forgotten. It’s also a reminder of why it’s so important to build communities where everyone feels they belong.”

Visiting the exhibition

The exhibition is at the Dominion Centre, The Green, Southall until Sunday 27 June. Although there are light-hearted moments in the exhibition film and audio, the council recognises that some visitors may find it emotional. Specially trained staff will be on hand to support visitors.