Teacher diversity crisis in UK schools, suggests new study

A professor from the University of Warwick has said ethnic minority students in the UK are suffering by not having teachers who represent them.

In Coventry, just under half of pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds, but 15.4% of primary schools have no teachers from those same backgrounds. This figure is even higher (45%) in Warwickshire.

Professor Joshua Fullard from the University of Warwick said: "We know that people who are taught by someone with matching demographic characteristics do better on test scores, have higher student satisfaction, have better communication skills and class behaviour.

"Just over 35% of young people in schools are from an ethnic minority background, over half of primary schools in england don't have a single teacher from an ethnic minority background - I think that's really quite striking."

Although this figure is improving gradually year-on-year, teacher diversity is moving slowly in comparison to the number of people from diverse backgrounds graduating from university. The study suggested this is likely due to issues in teacher pay and working conditions.

Professor Fullard suggests a lack of diversity could worsen existing inequalities - he said: "Classroom representation matters more to young people from less affluent backgrounds - they're already likely to have the lowest level of attainment and are now less likely to have someone from a similar background to support them in the classroom."

In some areas such as County Durham and North Yorkshire, over 80% of schools do not have a teacher from an ethnic minority background. Even in areas which are themselves less diverse, Professor Fullard argues improving teacher diversity will make a difference.

He said "Exposing young people to different cultures, different types of people, helps them to develop and understand the world around them."

The full report can be read here.

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