When the Streets Reach the Classroom: Why Anti-Racism Education Matters Now

Over the past few weeks, the UK has seen a rise in anti-immigration protests. From London to towns across England and Wales, the headlines show marches, chants, and anger spilling into the streets. What is more concerning, though, is that among the protesters are children and teenagers-some as young as 11.

For many, it isn’t about politics or deep convictions. It’s about belonging. Young people often get swept into movements—sometimes by accident, sometimes intentionally—because they are searching for identity, community, and purpose.

This reality should stop us in our tracks. Because if young people are learning about immigration, race, and identity on the streets, outside of context and critical reflection, then schools must step in.

Schools: The Frontline of Change

Education is not neutral. Every lesson, every story, every omission shapes how children understand the world and their place in it. When schools sidestep issues of race, identity, and justice, they leave space for harmful narratives to take root.

That’s why anti-racism education cannot just be a one-off workshop, an assembly, or a themed week. It must be built into the curriculum; into history lessons, literature, geography, PSHE, and beyond. It’s about showing the full picture of Britain’s past and present, giving students the tools to think critically, and fostering empathy in every classroom.

Moving from Reflection to Action

At Apex Educate, we believe schools have a unique opportunity to counteract division by making anti-racism a lived reality within education. Our Virtual Action Research Program is a year-long journey designed for schools across the UK and Wales. It equips teachers and leaders with the tools, strategies, and collaborative support to embed anti-racism into their teaching practice and school culture. This isn’t about surface-level changes. It’s about meaningful transformation-turning reflection into action and action into impact.

The presence of young people in anti-immigration protests is a stark reminder of what’s at stake. Without guidance, education, and critical engagement, misinformation and harmful ideologies can take root quickly.

But the opposite is also true: when young people are taught to think critically, value diversity, and understand histories of migration and resistance, they can become powerful agents of change.

This moment calls for more than words; it calls for commitment. Schools cannot afford to leave anti-racism on the margins. The work begins in classrooms, in lesson plans, in daily interactions.

If you are an educator or school leader ready to make a difference, I invite you to explore how the Virtual Action Research Program can support your journey. Together, we can shape classrooms where every student feels valued and prepared to build a fairer future.