Why Anti-Racism Fails in Schools—And How to Build Something Better

Rachel Clarke
Apr 22
2 min read

Absolutely — here’s a powerful blog post draft for “Why Anti-Racism Fails in Schools—and How to Build Something Better” written in Apex Educate’s bold, clear, no-nonsense tone. It's informative, accessible, and calls the reader in while holding them accountable.

Walk into most schools today, and you'll likely see a poster that says “All are welcome here.” There might be a DEI lead. Maybe even a few staff members who’ve done a training or two. But despite the surface-level efforts, racism still thrives—in hallways, staffrooms, curricula, and behaviour systems. So why is it that, after years of workshops, policy updates, and well-meaning assemblies, anti-racism still isn’t working?

Let’s talk about it.

1. Schools confuse awareness with action.

Anti-racism isn’t about knowing what bias is. It’s about disrupting the systems that allow it to shape how we treat, discipline, hire, and teach.

A one-off training might raise awareness. But awareness without action just creates guilt. And guilt doesn’t change policy.

Real anti-racism work looks like embedding equity into decision-making at every level—from classroom practices to leadership structures.

2. It’s treated as a side project, not a strategy.

Too often, schools hand this work to one staff member (usually a person of colour) and expect them to lead systemic change on top of their full-time role.

There’s no budget. No accountability. No clear plan.

That’s not a strategy. That’s performative care dressed up as progress.

3. Harm goes unaddressed.

When students or staff report racism, what happens next?If the answer is “we’re working on it” or “we had a conversation,” the harm is being swept under the rug—not repaired.

Without a response system that includes accountability, support, and restoration, schools risk re-traumatising those already marginalised.

4. Language is softened to make people comfortable.

Racism gets diluted into terms like “unkind behaviour” or “unconscious bias.”This soft language protects those in power and silences those harmed.

We can’t fix what we won’t name.

So what does it look like to do better?

It starts with intention, structure, and resourcing. Here's what we help schools build:

A full anti-racism audit — that identifies where harm is happening and what needs to change
Clear, ongoing staff learning — not one-and-done training, but learning that builds over time
A robust response system — so racism is addressed quickly, clearly, and with care
Metrics and accountability — because equity work needs to be tracked, just like everything else that matters
Courageous leadership — ready to make changes even when it’s uncomfortable

It’s time to stop ticking boxes.

Anti-racism fails when it’s performative. It succeeds when it’s embedded, measurable, and led with courage.

At Apex Educate, we’re launching a course built specifically for schools and organisations ready to lead real change — not just say the right things, but do them.

Our new course helps you go beyond performative DEI and build a real strategy

— grounded in equity, accountability, and action.

Check it out and enrol today: https://www.apex-educate.co.uk/anti-racism-resources