Teacher diversity crisis in UK schools, suggests new study

There are calls for more to be done to encourage teachers from minority backgrounds in schools in North Yorkshire

A new study's found the county is among only 6 in the country where 80% of primary schools have all-white teachers

Around the UK - the research also found 88 percent of schools have no senior leaders from minority backgrounds.

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."

The full report can be read here.

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