Diversity & Inclusion autumn term events
Supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in education
Pearson's 2021 Diversity Series is here to help you on the journey to achieving equal opportunities in education with an autumn calendar of wide-ranging events, running from October and throughout the term.
From discussion topics that impact a whole school or setting, to events based on specific roles and subjects, this series champions real inclusion and progressive conversation – equipping today’s teaching workforce with the knowledge and skills they need to make a positive, long-lasting impact.
Full listings of the sessions are below, and all are free to attend.
All sessions have now ended.
Find out more about the events
You can find out more about the sessions and sign-up for the webinars and recordings here.
Sessions suitable for Primary and Secondary educators are marked "P/S". Sessions suitable for Secondary educators only are marked "S".
Ended sessions
9 Dec 4:00 - 5:30 : Representation and Inclusive Practice in Drama | S
In this webinar, RinD (Representation in Drama) and guest artists will guide you through a presentation, discussions and exercises to support the development of an inclusive drama practice, enabling you to create a space for your students to belong and thrive.
We will explore and discuss performance texts which reflect your students’ identities and broaden their knowledge of storytelling and theatre making, discussing ways of introducing and using new stimuli for devised work and how to support your students to become theatre makers.
mezze eade
mezze worked for seven years as an administrator for Motionhouse, where they enjoyed touring with the company around Europe and to the US. After leaving, mezze developed their creative engagement practice working with adults in prisons and with youth theatre companies.
mezze was Participation Director at the Oxford Playhouse for five years before moving to London to work for the Young Vic. Currently, mezze is a freelance creative engagement practitioner, Talent Development Manager for Donmar and regularly works for The Old Vic. mezze manages RinD (Representation in Drama) for the LTC, working with schools, theatres and dance organisations around the country to improve representation and inclusive practices in arts education and training.
Romana Flello
Romana Flello is Deputy Director of Open Court at The Royal Court Theatre and Chair of the London Theatre Consortium's Creative Learning Group. Romana has produced and delivered schools tours, directed youth and community theatre group performances (Royal Court, The Bush & The Old Vic) produced youth festivals (Arcola Theatre, Royal Court) and developed and co -delivered a borough wide community project as part of the London Borough of Culture in Waltham Forest. Romana has conceived, produced, and developed various programmes including; writers’ groups, cross industry partnerships, teacher's panels and forums, digital resource packs and the Royal Court Young Agitators programme.
Romana is committed to supporting teachers as artists, developing and supporting innovative and representative work in the classroom and supporting pathways in to the arts for those who might not have immediate access as audiences or theatre makers. Romana has developed teacher consultation work, CPD programmes, relationships with exam boards, collaborated on the BBC Bitesize films for Drama and partnered with various arts education organisations to lobby and campaign for a more representative, inclusive and equitable arts education for all.
Yasmin Shomalzadeh
Yaz (he/they) is a British/Iranian trans actor and writer. He is an associate artistat The Gate, HighTide and Outbox Theatre. In 2017 they co-founded The Queer House agency and production house. Acting Credits include: I May Destroy You - BBC/HBO, Skin and Blister - Old Vic, And The Rest Of Me Floats -Bush Theatre, The Nursing Home - NT, ISHTAR
Jenny Sealey
Jenny Sealey MBE has been Graeae’s Artistic Director since 1997. She has
pioneered a new theatrical language and aesthetics of artistic access experi-menting with bilingual BSL and English, prerecorded BSL, creative captioning, in ear/ live audio description methods. Two, The Fall of the House of Usher, peeling, Bent, Blasted, Diary of an Action Man, Blood Wedding (Japan) Romeo and Juliet (Japan and Bangladesh) are particular examples but this ‘aesthetic’ now influences all Graeae’s independent and co-produced work.
7 - 9 Dec : Diversity in Lit Roundtable: Plotting Ahead 2021 | S
Building on the work of our very first Plotting Ahead event last year – which led to the creation of 10 aspirations for the future of diversity in children’s literature – we’re pleased to announce that the Plotting Ahead roundtable is back for 2021, to form practical steps to continue the fight to end systemic racism in education, affect real change, and create bias-free content reflecting the diversity of all learners.
From Tuesday 7 December until Thursday 9 December, a panel of expert speakers will unite with attendees online to discuss the implementation of those aspirations for literature 18 months on – following global lockdowns, widespread debates on racism and the Black Lives Matter movement, and the rise of digital access to education.
Session 1 (7 Dec, 12:00pm) : Welcome to Plotting Ahead 2021: Diversity in Literature
Session 2 (7 Dec, 2:00pm) : Helping senior leadership teams embed diversity in the curriculum (SLT members only)
Session 3 (8 Dec, 12:00pm) : The Lit in Colour story: how can students and teachers make positive change?
Session 4 (8 Dec, 02:00pm) : Hear from a pioneer: experience diversifying English Literature curriculum
Session 5 (9 Dec, 12:00pm) : The bigger picture of diversity
Session 6 (9 Dec, 2021 3:00pm) : What change needs to come from the industry?
Session 7 (9 Dec, 2021 5:00pm) : Plotting Ahead 2021: Closing Remarks and networking.
30 Nov 4:00 - 5:15 PM : Diversity in data with Professor Hannah Fry | S
This webinar will not be recorded, so anyone wishing to benefit from this session must do so live.
At Pearson, we want to support maths teachers and educators to promote and embed inclusivity and diversity in the classroom.
We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Diversity in data webinar with leading mathematician Professor Hannah Fry, to explore how all learners can feel included and represented.
Through practical advice and Q&A sessions, Hannah Fry – a best-selling author, award-winning presenter, and Professor in the Mathematics of Cities at the UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis – will help attendees understand the power of numbers and ethics within research and data collection. She will also explore gender inequality in STEM and ways to remove bias to ensure fair results.
This webinar is designed to promote diversity in data, the maths classroom and beyond. It will provide attendees with insights and tools that can be applied to the classroom.
Speaker
Professor Hannah Fry
Professor Hannah Fry is a leading mathematician, best-selling author, award-winning presenter, and Professor in the Mathematics of Cities at the UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis. Hannah is known for her joyful ability to bring maths to life for diverse audiences of all interests and abilities and was awarded the prestigious Zeeman Medial recognising her work in engaging the UK public with mathematics.
Her expertise is repeatedly called upon to develop and host BBC documentaries and her fun and lively radio programmes and podcasts have a large and devoted following. Her ability to engage and enthuse people with even the most complicated topics is equally evident on the page and her books delight readers around the globe.
23 Nov 4:00 - 5:00 PM (ended) : Diversity in Science: Disability virtual event | P/S
We want to help build a culture of inclusivity for those pursuing an education in science.
At our free online event this November, our inspirational panel will explore practical steps we can take to support and enable those with disabilities as they develop their scientific knowledge. This is not only crucial for young people with disabilities at school and college, but illustrates principles that can underpin the learning experiences of adults in the workplace.
This event is open to all, but may be of most interest to educators in the science field and science sector employers supporting their workforce's professional development. During the event, you will have the opportunity to engage with our panel by submitting questions and voting in polls.
16 Nov 4:00 - 5:30pm (ended) : Diversifying your curriculum, a closer look at LGBTIQA+ inclusion | P/S
We want to help teachers and leaders create and support LGBTIQA+ inclusivity in schools all year round.
Through advice and Q&A sessions, our speakers will provide you with the tools needed to do this and confidently tackle the challenges that can arise inside and outside the classroom.
From understanding pronouns, appropriate language and providing practical tips to drive change to using visual cues and creating safe spaces for students, the event is designed to promote inclusivity across the curriculum and beyond.
Speaker
Laila El-Metoui
Laila El-Metoui (pronounced 'lila el-mehtwee’)
Pronouns: she/ her
Laila is a UK based Equity and Belonging Consultant at lemEducation.com. Listed 81 on the Top 100 Pride Power List 2021 and Stonewall Lesbian Role Model of the Year (2020), she founded and runs two bi-yearly global virtual conferences Educating Out Racism and Pride in Education. Laila also Founded and chairs Proud London Councils, the Pan London Forum for LGBT + staff network in local authorities and is on the Advisory Board of Intersex Equality Rights UK and a Patron of Let Voice be Heard.
11 Nov (ended) : ‘Broadening the Curriculum’ in the classroom this year | P/S
- how to use the right language and tackle topics, conversations, and content sensitively.
- interactive Q&As on the topics that matter most to schools.
- advice and examples of the tools your school can use to help broaden the curriculum in the classroom this year.
Speaker
Alison Kriel
Alison Kriel was an inner city Executive Head Teacher for nearly 20 years. She has a reputation for excellence in leadership, leading schools with high social challenges to be in the top 0.1% nationally. Alison now works nationally and internationally supporting leaders with the strategic development of their schools, particularly those in challenging circumstances. She is a regular speaker and panel member at conferences, speaking on a wide variety of subjects including Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and AntiRacism. Alison is also the founder of Above & Beyond Education – a social media platform for all educators and schools to celebrate, connect, support, grow and collaborate.
10 Nov (ended) : The Black Curriculum: Embedding Black British History – mindsets + methods | S
This online event, in partnership with The Black Curriculum, is designed to support teachers to cultivate the mindset + methods essential to embedding Black British History through accessible, practical + impactful actions.
Delegates will explore the following:
- Positionality
- Decoloniality – reframing curriculum, pedagogy + school culture
- Why embed Black British History
- How to embed Black British History – case studies, actions + resources
- Embedding Black British History and the Migration thematic study
- Praxis + delivering an action plan for enhanced racial literacy provision
Please note: a recording of the event will be available to attendees only.
This event can count as 1.5 hours of CPD.
This event is currently at capacity.
6 Oct (ended) : Migration Topic Launch Event | S
Pearson and The Migration Museum held the official launch of Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) History topic – Migrants in Britain, c800-present and Notting Hill, c1948-c1970 in early October 2021.
The launch included a fascinating and emotive panel discussion and Q&A on why migration is an important area of study; what benefits Migrants in Britain brings for History teachers and students; and how teachers can prepare themselves to teach this topic. The panel featured Kwame Boateng, Lead Educator at The Black Curriculum, Aaron Skepple a History Consultant for Harris Federation, Samantha Slater, Subject Leader of History at Chatham Grammar School and Martin Spafford a retired school history teacher and Honorary Fellow of the Schools History Project and the Historical Association with Emily Miller, Head of Learning and Partnerships at The Migration Museum as MC.
The recording of the panel session will be available soon.
Speakers
Emily Miller
Emily oversees the education programme at The Migration Museum and coordinates the Migration Network across the UK. She has grown the education programme from scratch, reaching over 12,000 young people since joining the Migration Museum in 2013. Following an anthropology degree Emily trained as a citizenship teacher with TeachFirst and then moved on to co-ordinate an international education programme. She then worked at Seeds of Peace summer camps – which bring teenagers from the Middle East and South Asia together – and subsequently took an MA in Conflict Resolution in the Peace Studies division at Bradford University. This MA led to her role at the Migration Museum.
Kwame Boateng
Kwame is a passionate researcher and educator using de-colonial approaches to education and community development. His specialities include race, identity and their respective intersections with education and transformative pedagogy. As an educator and consultant for The Black Curriculum, Kwame believes that by embedding Black British history in schools nationally, future generations will gain a holistic understanding of British identity rooted in respect, reciprocity and empowerment for all.
Aaron Skepple
Aaron Skepple is an experienced history teacher and school leader. He advises heads of department and senior leaders on history teaching and curriculum design across the Federation and contributes to the Schools Direct Programme. He specialises in Imperial and Intellectual History. Aaron has a PGCE, an MA in Global history and International Politics and is currently completing an MSc in Learning and Teaching from Oxford University.
Martin Spafford
Martin Spafford is a retired school history teacher and helped design, develop and write textbooks and resources for the OCR GCSE units on migration. He was on the advisory board for the current Migration Museum ‘Departures’ exhibition and for the ‘Our Migration Story’ website created by the Runnymede Trust with whom he is currently collaborating on webinars for the NEU covering histories of race, migration and empire. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Schools History Project and the Historical Association. He is currently an active volunteer with the human rights education charity Journey to Justice.
Samantha Slater
Samantha Slater, Subject Leader of History, Chatham Grammar School Samantha has been teaching History since 2003 in several schools across Kent. She is now Subject Leader of History at Chatham Grammar. Chatham Grammar (CG) is a selective 11 – 19 girls academy (with a mixed sixth form) whose Lead Sponsor is the University of Kent. History is a very popular subject at GCSE, with approximately 80% of a cohort opting to continue from KS3. Samantha has focused on developing the History curriculum over the past 3 years to ensure it is more diverse, inclusive, and representative. Over the past 12 months, Samantha has been working alongside Dr Robin Whitburn and Abdul Mohamud on the Hodder textbook for the Migrants in Britain c.800 to present for Edexcel.