Page 33 - Race Equality in Education Pocket Book
P. 33
• Mark key events that celebrate BAME cultures and
achievements, such as Black History Month, Gypsy, Roma and
Traveller History Month. Ask students to help plan events and
activities to educate others. Consider inviting in guest speakers
to share their experiences.
• Invest in software such as Browsealoud to make your website
accessible and more inclusive of those for whom English is an
additional language. It allows the reader access to easy read
documents, audio translations and translations into multiple
languages.
• Publicise any networks or alliances you have with BAME
organisations and businesses as well as organisations known for
being inclusive. Publicise any charities you support as well.
• Publicise diverse role models on your website and in all
marketing literature. People need to be able to see people like
them doing well in education and beyond.
• Only a small percentage of BAME people go to Russell Group
universities: This is often due to unconscious bias at the interview
stage rather than a lack of ability. Be mindful of this. Does your
careers guidance allow BAME students to visit such universities?
Rather than thinking “would they fit in there?”, ask “what unique
ideas, skills and abilities could they bring to the university?”
• Issues around employability centre on low social capital not just
race; pre-university ‘aspiration raising’ should centre on
becoming the ‘post-graduation employed’; engagement with all
students should take place early, involving employers.
• Increase the number of programmes and initiatives focused on
improving Black students’ access to university – help Black
students know what to expect from university and what their
options are so they enter college or university with the right
expectations
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