HFL Education anti-racist position statement
Our commitment to addressing racism and advancing race equity
At HFL Education, our purpose is to help create great futures for all children and young people through access to high-quality education. We believe that every individual should have the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background, ethnicity, culture or circumstances.
We recognise that racism, discrimination and inequality continue to affect the experiences and outcomes of many people across society, including within education. We acknowledge that race inequity can exist at individual, institutional and systemic levels, and that meaningful change requires sustained commitment, reflection and action.
As an organisation, we are committed to being actively anti-racist. This means moving beyond intention and continually taking practical steps to challenge racism, remove barriers, promote equity and create environments where everyone feels valued, respected and able to belong.
Over recent years, our understanding and practice have continued to evolve through listening, reflection, collaboration and action. We are proud of the progress we have made, while recognising there is still more to learn and more to do.
This commitment extends across all aspects of our work, both as an employer and as a trusted partner to schools and educational settings. We strive to:
• Challenge racism and racial inequity wherever it is encountered.
• Promote inclusive and equitable practice across education and the workplace.
• Embed diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging within our culture, policies, decision-making and services.
• Listen to and learn from the experiences of colleagues, children, young people, schools, settings and communities.
• Build the confidence, knowledge and capability of our colleagues and the education sector to address race and identity with understanding and integrity.
• Champion representation, belonging and opportunity for all.
• Hold ourselves accountable for making progress and sustaining change over time.
We want everyone who works with and for HFL Education to experience fairness, respect and belonging. This shapes how we recruit, develop, support and work alongside our colleagues. We have embedded anti-racism and inclusion within colleague induction, professional development, leadership training and people management practices, helping to ensure that our commitment is reflected in everyday behaviours and decision-making.
As a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter, we continue to use its framework to guide and challenge our progress. Through initiatives including our EDI Tea Breaks and The Forum for colleagues from racially minoritised backgrounds, we create opportunities for dialogue, learning, allyship and action.
This also shapes the support we provide to schools and educational settings. Through professional learning, leadership development, curriculum support, conferences, practical resources and collaborative programmes, we work alongside education leaders to strengthen inclusive practice, build confidence in discussing race and identity, review representation within the curriculum, and contribute to wider system improvement. We believe education has a unique role in shaping a fairer society and are committed to helping schools create environments where diversity is reflected, valued and celebrated, and where all children and young people can flourish.
We continue to recognise and support initiatives such as Black History Month and Race Equality Week as opportunities to promote learning, reflection and meaningful conversation. However, we believe that advancing race equity requires commitment throughout the year and must be embedded within organisational culture rather than confined to specific events or campaigns.
We recognise that becoming an anti-racist organisation is not a destination but a continuous journey. Lasting progress depends on openness to challenge, collaboration and a willingness to learn, reflect and continually improve our practice. We value the expertise and perspectives of colleagues, schools, partners, communities, and especially those with lived experience of racism, whose insights help us better understand its impact. We use this feedback, alongside our governance and review processes, to help us understand our progress and identify what needs to change next.
Our commitment to anti-racism is embedded within our organisational values, strategic priorities and everyday decision-making. Supported by our Board, Executive Leadership Team and colleagues across HFL Education, we will continue to take purposeful action to advance race equity, strengthen inclusive practice and create environments where all people are treated with dignity, respect and fairness.
Our purpose is to help create great futures for children and young people. We know that racism and racial inequity continue to create barriers to opportunity and achievement. While we cannot address these challenges alone, we have a responsibility to play our part in tackling them. Addressing racism is therefore not separate from our work. It is part of creating an education system in which every child, young person and adult can flourish.
