We were privileged to welcome L’myah Sherae, Founder of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Race Equality in Education and Enact Equality, to our Diversity and Inclusion in Schools Conference 2024. With ethnic minority students making up 37.0% of all students (Gov, 2024), all across the education sector need to be aware of the issues faced by these students. L’myah highlights the campaigns that help to make all students feel included and facilitate the best possible learning environment for the next generation. Watch her discussion above or read the summary below.  

Enact: Advocating for Race Equality in Education

Enact, a prominent campaigns organisation, is dedicated to advancing race equality through national campaigns aimed at amending or introducing new legislation and policies in the UK Parliament. Under the leadership of its director, Enact has made significant strides in this field, notably establishing the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Race Equality in Education, which is the largest parliamentary group focused on race equality, with over 100 MPs and members of the House of Lords from various political parties.

The APPG is actively involved in running campaigns, conducting research, holding events, and advocating for policies and legislation that promote race equality in education. Enact’s efforts extend beyond education, addressing broader issues of race equality in collaboration with major organisations like the Premier League, Meta, and Twitter to combat online racism. The organisation also works on distributing free school uniforms and tackling environmental issues.

Holistic Approach to Education

Enact’s approach to education encompasses all stages, from early years to higher education. A notable achievement was the national campaign with the Halo Collective to address Afro-hair discrimination in schools, highlighting that over half of Black children have been sent home for wearing their hair naturally or in protective hairstyles. This campaign led to the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Prime Minister’s Office agreeing to publish new national guidance against Afro-hair discrimination in schools.

Additionally, Enact recently introduced a new bill in Parliament aimed at widening access and participation in higher education for Black students, addressing barriers to Black academia. The organisation also tackled issues in the Schools Bill and Ofsted‘s use of equality legislation in inspections. Their focus areas include curriculum reform, increasing Black representation in the teaching workforce, understanding hair discrimination, reducing school exclusions, and addressing race disproportionality.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

Enact advocates for schools to enhance diversity and inclusion by avoiding stereotypes in curricular resources, setting clear rules for staff and pupil treatment, using multicultural resources, ensuring equal access and participation, and employing various assessment methods. Schools are encouraged to scrutinise their policies and practices to ensure dignity and respect for all.

Creating strategies to support those experiencing or witnessing violations of equality commitments is crucial. An inclusive culture can be fostered through images, posters, cultural event recognition, and effective training in equality, diversity, and anti-racism. Encouraging feedback and addressing school exclusions are essential for improving education quality for pupils from minority groups.

Beyond Black History Month

Enact emphasises that while Black History Month is important for celebrating culture and supporting Black businesses, it should also serve as a catalyst for incorporating Black history into the curriculum year-round. School uniforms, though helpful in reducing inequality, should not hinder children’s self-expression.

Broader Campaigns

Enact runs various campaigns to change or introduce legislation, focusing on early years education, Black representation in the coaching sector, online racism, and the Windrush scandal. They also provide free school uniforms to schools with a high proportion of children from low-income backgrounds.

Through its comprehensive and multi-faceted approach, Enact continues to lead the charge in advocating for race equality in education and beyond, striving to create a more inclusive and equitable society.

This was presented to delegates at our Diversity and Inclusion in Schools Conference 2024. For more insights related to education and inclusion in schools, please consider attending our Neurodiversity in Schools Conference below.

Join us to hear the latest updates on policy and guidance for supporting neurodivergent pupils in schools. You will hear a series of best practice case studies from schools and experts across a range of topics, including providing personalised learning plans for neurodivergent pupils, co-production strategies and creating more accessible learning environments. You will also have the opportunity to network with senior colleagues from across the sector to learn innovative ideas.

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We were privileged to welcome L’myah Sherae, Founder of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Race Equality in Education and Enact Equality, to our Diversity and Inclusion in Schools Conference 2024. With ethnic minority students making up 37.0% of all students (Gov, 2024), all across the education sector need to be aware of the issues faced by these students.

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