Our Black Education in Britain programme is funded by Mission 44. The programme will delve into the barriers to education for Black pupils in the UK and make recommendations on what can be done to dismantle them, to enable children to reach their full potential.
Research by the YMCA shows that nearly half of Black young people in the UK think that teacher perceptions (50%) and racism at school (49%) are the biggest barriers to them achieving at school. In 2021/22, only 34.4% of Black Caribbean pupils in state-funded schools in England achieved grades 5 or above in GCSE English and Maths, compared to 49.6% of the overall student population.
Our ‘Black Education in Britain’ programme will establish clarity about these systemic barriers and what can be done to support Black pupils and their families through the education system. Its focus will be to lay the foundations for change across the education sector, working in partnership with key actors.
The State of Black Education in Britain, a report developed by Black Equity Organisation (BEO), investigates the persistent challenges and systemic inequities facing Black pupils, parents, teachers and communities in the UK education system. Through an in-depth analysis, including focus groups and survey data, the report illuminates how power dynamics within schools disadvantage Black communities, limiting their influence, access to resources and representation. Drawing on the lived experiences of Black pupils, parents and educators, the report exposes the ways in which the education system perpetuates socioeconomic disparities and undermines Black communities’ empowerment within educational settings.
Read our report on the ‘State of Black Education in Britain: A Power Analysis for Equity and Change’ when it launches on Tuesday 10th December. Learn more about the research behind the report.
