Student report: Leaders Unlocked’s plea for more diversity in the curriculum

A leading social enterprise is pushing for more diversity to be added to the curriculum to allow more students to feel like their voices are being heard.

Leaders Unlocked, which works with young people and underrepresented groups, has reached over 30,000 students and 45 further education colleges and sixth forms to develop student voice, leadership and social action within educational institutions and wider communities.

The aim to enable student and teachers to speak openly, and for colleges to be environments in which difficult topics can easily be discussed. Their recent work includes a student-lead project which has given young people a platform to speak out about racial inequality.

Folade Lawan, Project Manager at Leaders Unlocked, said the charity focuses on working with young people from marginalised backgrounds, and those who have experienced injustice across areas such as racial injustice and mental health.

She said: “I’d like to see more young people involved in the decision making across their college and the curriculum. I’d like to see students and staff working in tandem and to overall see more young people being involved in collaborative discussions and hear from them directly on what good change looks like.”

To get involved with the company or to see how your college or school could work with them, please click here.

Charlie Wheeler is studying UAL creative media production: Extended Diploma in journalism at Exeter College. He was reporting from the Association of Colleges Annual Conference and Exhibition.