The Lit in Colour Pioneers programme
Together with Penguin Books UK and The Runnymede Trust, we want to highlight the importance of a diverse English Literature curriculum.
It is essential that students having access to books by authors from a range of backgrounds, to ensure a better reflection of contemporary culture and society, and to provide students with both experiences beyond their own and experiences that may resonate with them.
To help in achieving this mission, we launched the Lit in Colour Pioneers Programme in 2021 which supported over 250 schools and 29,000 learners to enrich their learning by studying texts written by authors of colour. The recruitment of pioneer centres ran from 2021-2025 and we are committed to continuing to support all our centres wanting to diversify their curriculum.
Discover the Lit in Colour impact...
Following our 4-year pilot programme, we’re excited to share the Lit in Colour Pioneers Pilot impact report. The report provides in-depth insights on the effects of studying a text by an author of colour and is the latest step in our mission to create a curriculum that truly represents all.
Commissioned in collaboration with Penguin Books, and independently conducted by Oxford University's Department of Education, the report found that the Lit in Colour Pioneers Pilot increased the number of students answering exam questions on books by writers of colour by 100-fold between 2019 and 2023 – with teachers and students referring to its impact as ‘life changing’.
Here’s what our pioneers are saying…
Take a look at our case studies to find out more about our diverse set text options and the Lit in Colour Pioneer experience.
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