Race Equity in Education: From Research to Action

The Race Equity in Education Group (REEG) research is one of the most important pieces of work we’ve undertaken at Paradigm Project. It was community-led, grounded in lived experience, and designed to do more than describe problems it set out to reimagine solutions.

The Research Process

We used a participatory action research model, engaging almost 300 young people through creative workshops and assemblies, alongside parents, teachers, and community leaders. Partnering with six local organisations, we ensured this project was not only about schools, but about the wider ecosystems that shape children’s lives. The process was rooted in co-production: listening, reflecting, and building ideas together.

What the Research Exposed

The findings were stark but not surprising. Black students and families told us they do not trust schools to act on their commitments. Anti-racist posters and charters were described as surface-level, with little impact on daily life. Students spoke of feeling “caged” or “policed,” parents described being dismissed as “difficult,” and teachers admitted they lacked the time, training, and support to make equity real.

Yet, in contrast, the young people named community-led spaces as places of safety and possibility. Workshops gave them voice, belonging, and confidence. These insights highlight both the harm of current systems and the hope that emerges when communities are empowered to lead.

What Needs to Be Done Next

The call from this research is clear: schools cannot act alone, nor should they. Equity cannot be achieved through one-off policies or symbolic gestures. It requires structures of accountability where families and communities share power in shaping school culture, policies, and practices.
That’s why this work evolved from an anti-racist charter into something more radical and necessary: a prototype for a Community-Led Advisory Group to hold schools accountable. This is not about replacing schools, but about creating genuine partnership where trust can be rebuilt.

A Message of Hope

While the challenges are deep, so is the potential. This research showed us that young people are ready to lead, parents are eager to partner, and educators want to do better if given the support and structures they need. The future of equity in education lies in shared ownership where schools, families, and communities work together to dismantle barriers and create spaces of safety, belonging, and aspiration.

At Paradigm Project, we are committed to carrying this forward. The message is simple but urgent: performative equity is not enough. Real change means shifting power, sharing accountability, and building with,not for the communities most affected. That’s the work ahead, and it is work filled with hope.

Read the full research report: “Race Equity in Education Group: A community led exploration of race equity in education”