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Number 10 Downing Street

We were honoured to be present at and listened to at an inspirational event at 10 Downing Street.

Miss Jones and two of our incredible young people went to London to meet the UK Prime Minister for an important discussion on how we can ensure that every young person, regardless of their background, is able to thrive in school.

 

We have been working in partnership with Mission 44, who helped make this meeting happen. Mission 44 is a global charitable foundation established by Lewis Hamilton. On a mission to empower young people to overcome social injustice.

The roundtable, hosted at 10 Downing Street, was also attended by representatives from Mission 44, teachers, young people and others working across the education system.

Mission 44 believes listening to the voices and perspectives of young people is vital to ensure every student feels they belong in the classroom.

Following the meeting, the Government pledged to capture more data on young people’s experiences in schools and use it to shape policy and practice.

 

Read the Government’s commitments in full and how Mission 44 and partners will work with them to build a more inclusive education system: https://bit.ly/3HPrSW2

 

 

 

 

For me, inclusion is to feel safe, seen and understood in a new environment and for others to understand that maybe even if we are a little bit different, we are still people and that for us as a community, our background is not the happiest. 

I am exceptionally proud that we do not face discrimination in school and that we have worked so hard to make sure everyone understands the struggles of the Roma people and what makes us special. 

Since we started our work with Mission 44, we and our school have worked really hard to understand our communities. This includes our Community Liason Officer meeting all of our families and listening to them with an open heart. Taking the time to understand us has meant that we all feel safer in school and valued; school feels like home. 

We have now been able to take this work beyond the school gates, for example Elisei and I, along with other Roma students for school presented to over 200 NHS workers about social inclusion and how we can all work together to break down barriers. Undoubtedly, this work has reduced exclusions amongst this group of students and has increased our happiness immeasurably in school.

Teodora (Y10)

 


 
“I struggled in school and never felt like my voice was heard, that’s why I know first-hand that ensuring every student feels they belong in school is vital. I’m grateful that off the back of this meeting, the government has committed to working with Mission 44 to enact change focused on making the education system more inclusive. I’m so proud of how far Mission 44 has come in such a short space of time and the opportunity we have to transform the lives of vulnerable students across the country.”

Lewis Hamilton