School leaders leading anti-racism and inclusion: Evidence from schools in England

Abstract

Since the murder of George Floyd, there has been much more focus on tackling racism and other forms of structural and institutional inequities in ways not seen before by many. This moment of reckoning has, for the first time in recent history, resulted in individual and institutions grappling, with structures, systems, policies and processes that mimic and perpetuate unequal experiences and outcomes. A consequence of these grapplings has been individual and institutional galvanising, aimed at reducing gaps in experiences and removing barriers to equitable outcomes. This paper presents evidence from one primary and four secondary schools, of leaders contending with racism through people, processes, policies and systems to improve experiences and outcomes for staff and students between May 2020 and December 2022.