Anti-racist reading lists for staff

To create an anti-racist curriculum and teach in a way that's truly inclusive, you and your staff need to first understand the issues. These books and resources should support you on this journey.

Last reviewed on 19 December 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 40712
Contents
  1. How to use these lists
  2. Essential reading
  3. Further reading, watching and listening
  4. Set aside time for reading, reflection and discussion as part of CPD
A note on terminology: although 'anti-racism' as a term is used in a range of ways, we use it here to mean “the policy or practice of opposing racism and promoting racial equality”. 

How to use these lists

Read as many of these books as you can, and share the lists with your staff too. 

This reading should help your team to:

  • Develop an understanding of concepts like racism, anti-racism, white privilege, and unconscious bias
  • Reflect on how these concepts impact your school community (staff, pupils and families), your curriculum, and the society we live in
  • Reflect on what you're doing already in your school, and where you can do better

Some of this reading will present opposing views, but it should support you in thinking about these issues and considering different perspectives.

These books should help you and your staff to lead whole-school discussions about racism and whiteness. It'll also be particularly helpful for the staff involved in reviewing your curriculum to make it more inclusive.

If you're looking to improve diversity in children’s books, we have book lists here.

Essential reading

You might not have time to read everything, but these books are a great place to start.

Race and anti-racism

White privilege and whiteness

Race and education

Further reading, watching and listening

If you’ve got more time, or if you’ve already read the books above and want to gain a deeper understanding, have a look at:

Set aside time for reading, reflection and discussion as part of CPD

Encourage staff to do some of this reading in their own time (and expect that some staff will want to), but be mindful of staff workload. Put aside a staff meeting or INSET for people to catch up on this reading and discuss it within directed time.

You should use your CPD budget to buy these books. Keep copies in your staff room or lend them out to staff.

You might also consider setting up a reading group that meets once a term or once a month, to give staff a space to discuss the books they’re reading and reflect on how they’re impacting their practice.

Please note: the views within these books, podcasts and videos do not necessarily represent those of The Key, and links to sellers do not constitute an endorsement from The Key.

Sources

Many thanks to BAMEed and Pran Patel.

Pran has 16+ years of teaching experience, working recently as an assistant principal. He is a mental health and BAME advocate and speaker, and founder of The Teacherist blog. He currently consults with schools nationally and internationally on topics including decolonisation of the curriculum and equity in HR structures.

 

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