New Report Calls for Urgent Action to Address Systemic Inequalities in Black Education Across Britain

BEO calls on Government to commit to 10% target from Black communities in their new teacher initiative

London, UK – December 10, 2024: A new report launched today by The Black Equity Organisation (BEO) highlights the systemic inequities that hinder the success and wellbeing of Black pupils, parents, and teachers in the UK and includes calls for urgent action from Government, local authorities, OFSTED as well as schools to address these issues.

The report highlights that:

• Black Caribbean pupils are twice as likely to face exclusion as their White peers
• While 5.8% of school children are Black, just 2.5% of teachers and only 1% of headteachers are Black
• In BEO’s own commissioned research, 47% of surveyed Black pupils said their school curriculum fails to reflect their cultural heritage, and
• Over 70% of Black teachers reported inadequate resources to support Black pupils effectively.

“This report lays bare the structural barriers that have persisted for far too long in Britain’s education system and highlights the personal impact for Black teachers, parents and children” said Timi Okuwa, Black Equity Organisation’s CEO. “Achieving equity requires more than awareness – it demands decisive action, collective accountability, and a commitment to dismantling the systems that marginalise Black communities.”

Recommendations for Transformation

As a result, the report, funded by Mission 44, has outlined 23 recommendations – based on quantitative and qualitative research that brought together Black educators, parents and pupils from across the UK. These provide a clear roadmap for achieving equity in education:

• Urging the Department of Education and the Government to set a specific target for increasing the number of Black teachers by introducing race equality performance targets within the DfE’s teacher recruitment plans (a targeted percentage of the 6,500 new teachers mandated), to ensure that ethnic diversity reflects the school population served.
• Require all Initial Teacher Training providers to embed comprehensive modules on equity, anti-racism and cultural competence in their programmes. This will ensure that all newly qualified teachers enter the profession equipped to address bias, foster inclusivity and effectively support the needs of diverse pupils. 
• Revise the National Curriculum to require schools to incorporate an inclusive curriculum. The report calls on the Secretary of State for Education to mandate inclusive curriculum content, covering the histories and contributions of diverse groups beyond token representation. This will ensure that representation does not rely solely on individual school efforts. 
• Calling on OFSTED to include equity requirements for an ‘Excellent’ rating. This will ensure that no school can achieve an ‘Excellent’ rating if it has high rates of temporary and long-term exclusions that are racially disproportionate.
• For Black teachers, the report is calling for targeted mentorship as well as giving them autonomy to diversify the curriculum – to ensure that they have protection and career growth, as well as are able represent diverse histories authentically – addressing the tokenistic Black History Month observance to favour of year-round inclusion and genuine educating of pupils.
• On a school level, the report calls for independent equity audits, establishment of anti-racism accountability committees, equity-focused monitoring and enhanced SEND support with culturally responsive training.

The full report can be viewed here.

Media Contact:
Ashkii Taylor

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About Black Equity Organisation (BEO):

The Black Equity Organisation (BEO), launched in 2022, is an independent civil rights charitable organisation aimed at advancing justice and equity for Black people and communities in Britain.

About Mission 44

Launched by Seven Time Formula One World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton in 2021, Mission 44 is a charity that is working to build a fairer, more inclusive future for young people around the world. The charity invests in solutions that empower young people to overcome social injustice and succeed. It has a particular focus on developing an inclusive education system, creating employment opportunities in STEM and motorsport, and empowering young people to shape the world they live in.