Today, Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) released a new briefing on the education inequalities facing Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in England.
The briefing explores the inequalities and barriers pupils from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds face within teaching environments and beyond, and provides recommendations to improve educational outcomes across the communities.
Some of the key issues highlighted include:
- Significant student drop-off rates through secondary education.
- Lack of inclusive teaching environments to acknowledge and celebrate Gypsy, Traveller and Roma cultures and histories.
- High levels of bullying and discrimination experienced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children.
- Digital exclusion presenting barriers to learning, where there is limited access to devices or sufficient parental digital literacy to assist with home learning.
- Insufficient support and mechanisms for travelling families to access and maintain education.
Romany Gypsies, Roma and Irish Travellers have the lowest educational attainment at all key stages up to and including KS4, and experience the highest rate of exclusions out of any ethnic groups in the UK.
Reliance on digital means during the Covid-19 pandemic also widened the attainment gap and worsened pre-existing educational inequalities, making it more difficult for many pupils to continue learning.
This briefing seeks to improve understanding of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people’s experiences of education, and offers guidance on how it can be improved so that everyone can access suitable education.
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About Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT)
Friends, Families and Travellers is a leading national charity that works to end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.
Media Contact
Communications Team
Email: comms@gypsy-traveller.org
Additional Resources
Education Inequalities faced by Gypsies, Roma and Traveller in England. Friends, Families and Travellers. November 2023. Read.
