Raise Learner Aspirations with an Effective Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy

An equality, diversity and inclusion policy on the website says little about whether learners feel included. What counts is where it shows up in their week.

Every stage of the learner journey is a chance to build fairness in. Before learners arrive, audit your prospectus, website and posters against each protected characteristic and see who's missing. At interview, hear what the learner says they need before anyone decides for them. In the classroom, check whose names appear in assignments, whether hairdressing students learn to cut afro hair, and whether the set texts give learners something they can relate to.

Then find out whether it's working. Regular focus groups, termly questionnaires and anonymous tools like Padlet show you what's changed, and give you a 'you said, we did' record to point to.