The number of people in England and Wales identifying as “mixed” tripled between 2001 and 2021. That’s 1.8 million people or 2.7% of the total population
However, in 2021, 25% of households in Britain contained members of more than one ethnicity.
And around 1 in 16 children in schools identify as “mixed”.
It is the fastest-growing and youngest of all the ethnic categories.
The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group grew by 61% and has the youngest average age, with a median age of 19, compared to the overall population median of 40.
This conversation is therefore a vital one for all educators.
This session will explore the different ways individuals navigate their “Mixed” identity and what role schools can have in supporting this. We will discuss a wide range of issues from appropriate and inappropriate language, representation in the curriculum and even why the existence of the category of “mixed” makes conversations around the construction of ‘race’ and ‘whiteness’ a necessity.We hope you will leave with ideas that can support you with…..
THE PRACTICAL THINGS :
- How schools (should) handle identity forms/categories
- Supporting mixed heritage children’s sense of belonging
- Language and terminology (Mixed Race? Mixed Heritage? Dual heritage? Biracial?)
- Preparing children for the “what are you?” question
- Creating curricula that reflect the complexity of mixed identities
- Disrupting stereotypes
- Addressing differing levels of racial literacy in settings
- Supporting families navigating mixed identity conversations
THE THEORETICAL BITS:
- Historical invention of race and whiteness
- How mixed heritage identities expose constructed categories
- The paradox of race – it is both an invention and a lived reality
We have three amazing speakers who will be sharing their lived experiences along with ideas, knowledge and strategies. They are;
Domini Choudhury – EDI Consultant
Danielle Oudomvilay – Primary Teacher
Ameerah Turner-Desai – Programme Manager
We are also hoping to announce a Special Guest speaker – so stay tuned for that update!
When? Tuesday 5 May 2026, 16:00 – 17:30
Where? Online
