Plotting Ahead... Diversity, inclusion and belonging
Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging in children’s literature.
In early 2020, the Pearson Plotting Ahead roundtable series launched its inaugural event.
Educators, independent publishers and third sector organisations came together to discuss the existing lack of diversity, inclusion and belonging in children’s literature across the UK. Since that time, the world has faced one of the greatest challenges in modern times but the collective commitment to diversity and inclusion in literature has not wavered.
Following the event and with the help of all of those in attendance, we wanted to identify what we should and could do to improve diversity in literature for children and young people across the UK – as individuals, as organisations and as a nation.
Our Roundtable Report
Our 2021 speakers
Hannah Wilson
Hannah Wilson is a leadership development consultant, coach and trainer. She is a DfE coach for the Women Leading in Education initiative and an advocate for flexible working (the focus for her MA in Education). Hannah is the Co-Founder of #WomenEd and #DiverseEd. She is the Director of Diverse Educators.
Dr Zaahida Nabagereka
Zaahida Nabagereka is Programme Manager for Lit in Colour, working between Runnymede Trust and Penguin Random House. Lit in Colour is campaign designed to increase the representation of authors of colour in English Literature taught in UK schools. Zaahida completed her doctorate at SOAS focusing on linguistic imperialism in Uganda and how it affects contemporary literature production in indigenous languages. She co-founded Afrikult, a literary organisation seeking to widen access to African literatures through interactive workshops in 2014. Since then Arikult has devised and facilitated workshops at schools, festivals and conferences in England, Wales, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya. Zaahida has guest lectured at SOAS, UCL, UEA and was a Visiting Lecturer on the BA English programme at City, University of London.
Dr Velda Elliott
Velda Elliott is Associate Professor of English and Literacy Education at Oxford University’s Department of Education. She is a curriculum tutor for the English PGCE and MSc in Learning and Teaching. She is also Director of Doctoral Research, in which role she leads doctoral training in the department. She is co-convenor of the Qualitative Methods Hub.
Velda was an English teacher in state schools in Yorkshire before undertaking doctoral research in OUCEA, gaining her doctorate in 2011. She has previously led the PGCE in English with Drama at the University of Warwick and been a Lecturer in English in Education at the University of York. Velda was the lead researcher for the Lit in Colour report which examined the current state of teaching of diverse texts in England, and the barriers to greater diversity in the curriculum.
Alba Kapoor
Alba is Policy Officer for both the Runnymede Trust and Race on the Agenda. Prior to this, Alba worked as a researcher for Members of Parliament in the House of Commons. Her responsibilities included providing policy research and parliamentary support for Marsha de Cordova MP in her roles as Shadow Minister for Disabled People and Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities. Alba has previously represented South East Labour members on the Young Labour National Committee. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Oxford in History and Politics, where her thesis focused on the politics of Asian Youth Movements in Britain.
Zahara Chowdhury
Zahara was an experienced Head of Department, Associate Senior Leader, education and wellbeing consultant. She is now Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Lead across two secondary schools, supporting staff, students and parents with DEI education. After several classroom discussions and the encouragement of students, Zahara also started the blog and award nominated podcast, School Should Be, a platform for students, parents and teachers to discuss all the things schools should be, to encourage diversity of thought, discuss differing perspectives and support meaningful, mature and responsible conversations in school.
Daniel Tomlinson-Grey (he/him)
Daniel Tomlinson-Gray (he/him) is co-founder and director of LGBTed, a network of more than 6,000 teachers and school leaders who aim increase the visibility of authentic LGBT+ role models in schools through mentoring, training, policy implementation and curriculum design. He is also the author of Big Gay Adventures In Education: Supporting LGBT+ Visibility and Inclusion in Schools - published through Routledge - as well as a full-time teacher of English and Media Studies.
Dr Jamie Galpin
Jamie is an Education Officer at nasen and leads on the development and delivery of the organisation’s CPDL programme. He is a chartered Developmental Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He also lecturers on a wide range of topics including postgraduate research in special and inclusive education, initial teacher education, quantitative research methodology and social constructions of difference. He has been working with children and young people with SEN for the past 18 years. Whilst working both as an SEN teaching assistant and then as an SEN teacher he completed his Master’s degree in Child Development. His interest in the practical applications of research then led him to complete a Master’s in Research in Education. Jamie went on to complete his PhD in Developmental Psychology.
