Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Hertfordshire Schools

Many Hertfordshire schools and trusts, supported by HFL Education and Herts County Council, are actively looking at ways to diversify their staff and improve retention and progression for all staff. Diversity and inclusion in schools is vitally important for a number of reasons:

• Equality and diversity enrich our society

• Encountering people from similar backgrounds provides important recognition for members of minority groups and helps to counter negative racial stereotypes

• Improving recruitment and retention among teachers of colour could help reduce teacher shortages

• Pupils of colour taught by a same-race teacher have more positive outcomes

• As educators, it’s important that we teach our young people to celebrate difference, to live with compassion for others and to be curious about people who may not be the same as them.

• We know that when people can be themselves at work, they are more likely to perform better, and be happier, more productive and more innovative. Diversity and inclusion directly links to wellbeing of both our young people and our educators.

Here are some of the ways we have been working to make a difference:

Supporting equality, diversity and inclusion in schools

HFL are committed to promoting anti-racism in schools. Our Race Equality Advisers and Wellbeing Team work closely with schools to support their equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives.

We deliver staff training and consultation sessions, staff, pupil and parent voice sessions, and masterclasses on anti-racism and race equality for schools and governors. We also provide various digital resources, including a Race Equity Toolkit, anti-racism self-evaluation and Hate Crime teaching resources for primary and secondary schools.

Leading for Belonging: Building Inclusive School Communities

Leading for Belonging: Building Inclusive School Communities is a series of in person events focussing on inclusive belonging, equity and community cohesion, supporting school leaders to translate values into lawful practice and respond confidently to social complexity through peer learning.

The National Race Equity Conference: Achieving Great Representation

In 2023 HFL Education was very proud to host our first, fully-funded National Race Equity conference to support the highly popular work we have been doing with many schools in Hertfordshire .

With three nationally renowned keynote speakers, this was a fantastic event.

David Olusoga OBE, historian, professor, journalist, film maker and broadcaster. Author of ‘Black and British’.

Reni Eddo Lodge, journalist podcaster and award-winning author of ‘Why I Am No Longer Talking To White People About Race’

Jeffrey Boakye, educator, writer and broadcaster. Author of 'Black, Listed’, ‘I heard what you said’, ‘Hold Tight’ and ‘Musical Truth’.

This event was fully funded by HFL Education to support our commitment to improving Race Equity.

Herts Voices

Herts Voices is an inspirational volunteer speakers programme which connects schools in the county with speakers from racially diverse backgrounds, many of whom have connections with Hertfordshire.

Stonewall CYPS Gold Award

Since 2013, HCC and HFL have maintained their joint status as a Stonewall Children’s and Young People’s Champion. It has evolved over the years, but we now, every other year, submit a joint application for accreditation of our LGBT+ work. The criteria are very wide ranging, including a strong focus on training of HCC/HFL staff, school staff, senior leaders, governors/trustees, council members and foster carers.

Other indicators cover support for LGBT youth, celebration of LGBT events and achievements and evidencing case studies from all categories of schools. HFL's Karin Hutchinson pulls together the joint application for the HCC/HFL partnership and is delighted to announce that – as ever – Hertfordshire has maintained their gold standard award.

There is no standing still with this award and our new work this year has included an HFL Wellbeing Team teaching resource on Hate Crime and Prejudice Related Incidents and significant support for schools on delivering LGBT+ inclusive RSHE.

For more information visit, www.hfleducation.org

HR & Recruitment

The Department for Education’s school data for 2024/25 shows that nationally 38 % of school pupils are from a minority ethnic background. In contrast, 16.8% of UK teachers identify as belonging to an ethnic minority group.

We also know that most teachers of racially minoritised ethnic heritage teach in urban areas and that these teachers leave the profession at a higher rate than White teachers.

Here at Teach in Herts we are trying to raise the profile of school staff and school leaders from minority backgrounds through our Success Stories area. We are also engaged in ongoing EDI training, guidance and support for schools across the county and beyond.

Some of our talented colleagues also contributed to You are Not Alone: Leaders for Race Equality by NAHT Communications - Issuu which is a great resource to read and to share.

Networking opportunities

Whilst many of our schools are actively seeking to increase the diversity of their staff, we recognise that there is still a lot to be done, and it can be a lonely place to be if you are one of a small minority.

Please contact Shammi Rahman, Race Equity Adviser for more information on [email protected]

And... Join Shammi and the team for scheduled training and termly briefings.

Termly Anti‑Racism and EDI Briefings for Schools | Starting 14 October 2026

Or get in touch to find out how we can help you and your school.

You can find out more about how we are supporting equity and equality across Hertfordshire here: Equality, diversity and inclusion

You might also be interested to read some of our blogs.

Hertfordshire is keen to support all staff, whatever their background, and if there is anything you need or that you feel is missing, please do get in touch and we will do our best to help you: 

[email protected]