Past Events

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Responding to the adultification of Black girls in secondary education 

A roundtable discussion hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Race Equality in Education, in collaboration with the National Education Union. 

Leaders in the field joined us for a discussion about the adultification of Black girls and how the intersection of racism and sexism impacts girls in education, and in wider society, including in safeguarding and the criminal justice system. We explored the issue in detail, and identified where research and policy can most helpfully pursue a better understanding of the issues children and their educators face. 

Building an Inclusive Curriculum 

A panel event hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Race Equality in Education and the APPG on Race and Community, with support from Penguin Books and the Runnymede Trust, focusing on supporting UK schools to make the teaching and learning of English Literature more inclusive of writers of colour.

Co-chaired by Diane Abbott MP and Clive Lewis MP, we were delighted that the following individuals also spoke on the panel:

• Professor Nicola Rollock, Author of 'The Racial Code'
• Katy Lewis, Head of English, Drama and Languages at Pearson;
• Daniel Fenwick, Primary School Deputy Headteacher;
• Zaahida Nabagereka, Head of Social Impact at Penguin Books UK;
• Lesley Nelson-Addy, Education Manager at the Runnymede Trust, former teacher, PhD candidate Oxford University Department of Education, Research Assistant for Lit in Colour.

In 2021 Penguin UK Books and the Runnymede Trust produced ground-breaking research, Lit in Colour, which found that fewer than 1% of students at GCSE study a book by a writer of colour.

Books create belonging. They help us see each other and understand one another. They shine a light on the world. It’s vital that the books we read in our formative years reflect the rich diversity of the society we live in.

This event explored how to support schools to make the teaching and learning of English Literature more inclusive, so every pupil can feel a sense of belonging. 

APPG annual group meeting (AGM), election of officers, and private roundtable discussion on tackling racism both online and offline

The APPG hosted its annual group meeting to set out its vision for the upcoming year, and to elect the group's new officers, which can be found here.     

Following this, the APPG held a private roundtable discussion, in collaboration with the leading social media giants - Twitter, TikTok, Google, YouTube, Instagram & Facebook (Meta). Here, we discussed the Online Safety Bill, which is currently at Committee Stage, and how we can collectively work together as political leaders, education stakeholders, and social media platforms, to tackle abuse both online and offline.

Please click here to view the APPG's income and expenditure form

Tackling Racism Online and Offline

A private roundtable event hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Race Equality in Education and Twitter UK

Key Speakers:

• Diane Abbott MP - Chair of the APPG for Race Equality in Education
• Kim Johnson MP - Officer of the APPG for Race Equality in Education
• L'myah Sherae - Founder of the APPG for Race Equality in Education
• Katy Minshall - Head of UK Public Policy at Twitter
• Alfiaz Vaiya - Co-Founder of Equinox

Attendees: Politicians from the House of Commons and the House of Lords, senior leaders from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and experts from tech, education, and race equality organisations

Windrush Day: The importance of diversifying the curricula

The event was held in celebration of Windrush Day, to commemorate the phenomenal impact and contribution of the Windrush generation to our society. The event also provided a platform to discuss the importance of increasing racial diversity across the curricula - including schools, further education and higher education curricula.

Speakers included:

• Levi Roots - Celebrity chef, entrepreneur and musician
• Rt Hon Diane Abbott MP – Chair of the APPG for Race Equality in Education
• Lord Simon Woolley - Vice-Chair of the APPG for Race Equality in Education
• L'myah Sherae - Founder of the APPG for Race Equality in Education
• Lavinya Stennett - Founder of the Black Curriculum

APPG Discussion on School Discipline and Exclusions

Public event in solidarity with the students, parents and teachers who have used their voice to speak out about racial inequalities in education and further racism in schools. The event provided a platform to discuss the future of school discipline, afro hair discrimination and exclusions.

Speakers included:

• Rt Hon Diane Abbott MP – Chair of the APPG for Race Equality in Education
• Rt Hon David Simmonds MP - Officer of the APPG for Race Equality in Education, and current member of the House of Commons Education Committee
• Rt Hon Kim Johnson MP - Officer of the APPG for Race Equality in Education, and current member of the House of Commons Education Committee
• L’myah Sherae – Founder of the APPG for Race Equality in Education
• Carolyn Osbourne – Specialist Education Law Solicitor
• Michelle De Leon - Founder of World Afro Day
• Emmanuel Onapa - Communications Lead at 4Front Project

We were also joined by guest speaker Ruby Williams, who has spoken out about being repeatedly sent home from her former school because of her afro hair.

APPG Inaugural Election 

Elected Officers:

• Diane Abbott MP: Chair
• Lord Simon Woolley: Vice-Chair
• Adam Afriyie MP: Vice-Chair
• Afzal Khan MP: Vice-Chair
• David Simmonds MP: Officer
• Kim Johnson MP: Officer
• Lord Paul Boateng: Officer
• Simon Fell MP: Officer
• Valerie Vaz MP: Officer

The inaugural election of the APPG's Officers. Our co-sponsors, Advance HE, the Education Development Trust and Equaliteach were present. 

Further information about our leadership can be found here.