Research

Overview

Our research is community-led, participatory, and grounded in lived experience. We use qualitative and mixed-method approaches to explore systemic inequities in education, with a focus on school exclusions, racial injustice, and safeguarding failures. By centring marginalised voices, we generate insight that informs practice, shapes policy, and drives upstream change.

Our Projects

Research Projects

Race Equity in Education Group

For decades, educational inequality has been measured in data points - attainment gaps, disciplinary rates, exclusion figures. But what happens when you listen to lived experience?

From Intention to Impact

While many schools claim to champion diversity and inclusion, the experiences of Black girls in the classroom tell a different story.

School to Prison Pipeline

Concentrating on the London Borough of Newham, providing a hyper-localised understanding of upstream solutions to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline.

Our Focus Areas

We explore the systemic drivers of inequality in education, with a particular focus on:

School exclusions and the school-to-prison pipeline
Race equity and the experiences of Black and racially minoritised students
Cultural humility and identity-affirming education
Safeguarding and the role of education in early intervention
The intersection of trauma, behaviour, and belonging in schools

Our Research Methods

Our work blends academic rigour with real-world insight through:

Participatory research – co-designed with communities and stakeholders
Community-led methodologies – prioritising lived experience as expertise
Trauma-informed approaches – recognising the impact of adversity on learning and behaviour
Creative and narrative methods – including poetry, storytelling, and arts-based inquiry

Get Involved

Book a call with us to explore strategic partnerships that drive upstream change in education. We welcome collaboration with funders, research institutions, and mission-aligned organisations.

Book a Call