Reflections of a School Governor, Then and Now Rosie grew up going to school in Stretford, alongside her older sister Sophie. In her primary school, there were only two Black children. They were sisters. And they were noticed constantly. Not for their brilliance.Not for their potential.But for their difference. From the earliest years of schooling, […]
When Lived Experience Never Leaves the Room Read More »
What Is Racism? Why It Matters. How To Be Anti-Racist.(With guidance for UK organisations preparing for Black History Month in October) During Black History Month in the United States (February), people reflect on history, justice, civil rights and equality. In the UK, Black History Month takes place in October. Although the histories differ, the core
Black History Month (USA) Read More »
The Business, Legal and Moral Case for Racial Equality When a prominent business leader states that “the UK has been colonised by immigrants,” the impact goes far beyond political opinion. When such remarks are made by someone in a position of commercial authority, particularly within a global brand such as Manchester United, they must be
This blog is designed for schools, colleges, and education settings across all sectors. It provides practical guidance for supporting learners with English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), particularly where staff teams have limited cultural diversity. The focus is on inclusion without blame, evidence-informed practice, and reflective improvement. Why
Inclusive Practice for EAL + SEND Learners from Ethnically Diverse Backgrounds Read More »
Why I have put this pack together I have been a school governor and Chair of Governors for over seventeen years. During that time, I have governed in a wide range of contexts and communities. I have also experienced racism and exclusion within governance spaces, sometimes overt, often subtle, but consistently impactful. There have been
Anti-Racist Governance Read More »
Turn on a football match and you will hear it repeatedly: “The German midfielder…”“The African winger…”“The Brazilian flair player…” Meanwhile, English players are simply players. They are described by their role, their form, their leadership, their technique. Their nationality is invisible, assumed, centred, unremarkable. This difference is not accidental. And it is not neutral. Playing
For Governors, Leaders and School Communities This blog post is written for governors who want to understand and strengthen meaningful student voice and co‑production in their schools. Too often, student voice is reduced to surveys or councils involving the same confident students, taking place after decisions have already been made. This guide centres children and
EDI Student Voice and Co-Production Read More »
History shows us a troubling pattern: when certain groups are deemed “less capable” or “less worthy,” their rights are slowly eroded. They are pushed to the margins, their voices silenced, and their contributions overlooked. Yet in moments of national crisis, those same groups are suddenly called upon to step forward, to rebuild, to serve, and
This note is for anyone who sits on school Finance Committees or holds the role of Finance or Data Link Governor/Trustee and has been asked to look more closely at school finances. Other governors don’t need to use the benchmarking website themselves, but this explains how to use it, and how it helps us ask
Financial Benchmarking – A Simple Guide for Governors Read More »
Why Ethnic Diversity in School Governance Matters Across the UK, the school population is becoming more ethnically diverse every year, yet the people who govern our schools do not reflect this reality. Children from ethnically diverse backgrounds now make up a significant proportion of pupils in England, but that diversity is not matched in the
Our Schools Need Governors Who Look Like Our Children Read More »
