Further education leaders and teachers know they need to be aware of the experiences of young people from minoritised ethnic groups to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all. The sector has come a long way, but the Student Commission on Racial Justice report shows there’s further to go.
Negative stereotyping means that young people from minoritised ethnic groups are disadvantaged from the start of education. Our findings show a double standard in the way students are viewed by peers and staff. Groups of black students, for example, are more likely to be seen as gangs or hooligans while their white peers are viewed more favourably as a group of friends or “squad”.
As a young black teen, Mahad was followed by security while out in shopping centres with friends of the same ethnicity. He can’t help but feel like there is “a negative assumption purely based on the way we look”, an experience replicated around the country, including in education settings.
