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Books create belonging. They help us see each other and understand one another. They shine a light on the world. It’s vital that the books we read in our formative years reflect the rich diversity of the society we live in.
In September 2020, we partnered with Penguin Random House to create the solution how to support schools to make the teaching and learning of English Literature more inclusive. Our mission is to increase students’ access to more books by writers of colour and those from minority ethnic backgrounds.
It’s vital that the books we read in our formative years reflect the rich diversity of the society we live in.
That’s why we have partnered with Penguin to explore how to support schools to make the teaching and learning of English Literature more inclusive. We want to increase students’ access to more books by writers of colour.
Every young person deserves an educational experience that more fully reflects Britain’s past and the lives of its young people today. There has been much debate about the need to reform the History curriculum – but we believe there is a real need to reconsider English literature too. After all, almost every young person studies English literature until the age of 16.
“When I was a teenager, I had a moment of realisation. I didn’t fit into the narrative of England, the country I was born in. I couldn’t find myself in any of the stories; as a student of literature, I was desperate to feel like I had a place. I sought it out many years later, but I recognise my privilege in being able to.”
- Bennie Kara, former assistant headteacher in London, 2017
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Change happens when people work together, which is why we’re excited to be working in partnership with organisations and individuals who have been campaigning for educational reform for many years.
We would be delighted to hear from other organisations and individuals interested in collaborating with us.
Teachers: you play a unique role in inspiring a lifelong love of reading.
1) How do we get involved?
We recognise that many teachers are under considerable pressure and have to juggle a wide range of responsibilities, as well as adapting to significant curriculum change over the last few years.
That’s why a core part of Lit in Colour is a commitment to a long-term programme of practical support for teachers and school librarians, including book donations, training and free digital resources. We’ll also be offering teachers the chance to contribute to our research by sharing their own thoughts and ideas.
2) How will the research be used?
The research makes a number of recommendations to ensure more writers of colour are at the heart of the teaching and learning of English Literature, focusing specifically on Key Stages 2-5. As part of this research, we consulted extensively with teachers and students to ensure these recommendations are practical and informed by the realities of the classroom. You can download a more detailed overview of the scope of research here.
3)What resources are available for teachers?
Primary resource packs, reading lists and more
Secondary video resources, talks and more
Sign up to our dedicated Lit in Colour newsletter for teachers
We are very excited to be working in partnership with organisations and individuals who have been campaigning for educational reform for many years.
Pearson is the UK’s largest awarding body. Over 25% of set texts offered by Pearson at GCSE (9-1) English Literature comprise authors of Colour, and over the next two years we will be working in partnership with Pearson to incentivise and support 100 secondary schools across the UK to integrate a new text by a BAME writer into their English Literature curriculum, from September 2021. Click here to find out more the Lit in Colour Pioneers pilot.
The Black Writers’ Guild was set up in June 2020 and represents professional and emerging British writers of Black African and Black African-Caribbean descent. It aims to create a sustainable, profitable, and equal ecosystem of and for Black writers and literary talent in the UK.
OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA) is a leading UK awarding body, providing a range of qualifications to meet the needs of learners of all ages and abilities. OCR qualifications include AS/A Levels, GCSEs, and vocational qualifications such as Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals. Well over half a million students gain OCR qualifications every year, which are offered by nearly 6,000 centres including schools, sixth form colleges, FE colleges, training providers, voluntary organisations, local authorities, and businesses. OCR is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group which is a department of the University of Cambridge. We will be working with them as they continue to diversify the texts they offer across their English Literature GCSE and A Level specifications.
The National Literacy Trust is a charity dedicated to improving the literacy skills of those who need it most. Penguin and the National Literacy Trust have worked in partnership for over a decade, including developing Puffin World of Stories to re-imagine primary school libraries and inspire children to fall in love with reading. Building on the charity’s ongoing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, we will work together to embed the principles of Lit in Colour into our existing joint school programmes.
Our aim is to work with as many different schools across the country over the course of this multi-year campaign.
We will be working with teachers and students at Penguin’s existing partner secondary schools - Lillian Baylis Technology School and Barking Abbey School.
We aim to embed Lit in Colour into our flagship programme with the National Literacy Trust, Puffin World of Stories, which has so far supported over 200 primary schools to revitalise their library into a hub of creativity and imagination.
We would be delighted to hear from other organisations and individuals interested in collaborating with us. If you are interested in joining the campaign please email us at litincolour@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk.
