Deeper Thinking, Stronger Action (DTSA) is an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) toolkit that supports leaders in the Further º£½ÇÉçÇø (FE) and Skills sector to make personal and organisational commitments to EDI. Here, we use the term Equity, rather than Equality, to mean distributing resources based on the needs of the recipients as opposed to giving everyone the exact same resources.
To make the best use of this toolkit, we recommend that you work through the guide to Deeper Thinking, Stronger Action. While the videos below focus on key EDI points of reflection and the ‘leadership considerations’ are a good starting point for planning, the guide delves deeper into three EDI areas:
As you read the guide, watch the videos and engage with the content, you might like to note down ideas in an action plan.
Watch this introductory video, where Claire Cullinan and Kathryn James (co-authors of DTSA) explain why this toolkit was created and how it can be used to support the leadership of EDI in FE and Skills.
Listen to leaders from four FE and Skills organisations explain their EDI context, what they plan to do and how DTSA has helped/will help them on their EDI journeys.
Consider some key topics that relate to EDI and the ways in which DTSA can support your EDI leadership. Topics include:
In the EDI spotlight videos, leaders and staff from City Lit, Colchester Institute, Hopwood Hall College and Walsall College share their experiences of thinking deeply about EDI, planning and taking strong action. They focus on the following strategic topics: Getting started, Leading EDI, Doing things the right way, Creating inclusive spaces and Making sustainable change. Other videos focus on the following aspects of EDI: Allyship, Intersectionality and Unconscious bias.
The Deeper Thinking, Stronger Action guide contains many helpful ideas and suggestions for your EDI development work. We have tried not to replicate them below, as they are explained in detail in the guide, with links to wider reading if you would like to delve into any topics more deeply.
Click on the dropdown boxes below to view tips that have arisen from working with sector leaders who are using DTSA to support their work.
We have complied a list of EDI resources to help you as you embark on your journey to becoming an EDI leader. Please note that these resources are intended as a starting point for your EDI learning. As you progress in your role as an EDI leader, we encourage you to search for additional resources that match your interests, address any gaps in your knowledge, and remain open to diverse perspectives.
Please note that links will open in new tabs.
The independent statutory body with responsibility to encourage equality and diversity, eliminate unlawful discrimination, and promote the human rights of everyone in Britain. Provides guidance, reports and research on a range of equality and diversity issues.
An independent report into the racial and ethnic disparities in the UK. Includes a section on education and training, and employment, fairness at work and enterprise. Published in 2021.
Insights gained from the UK Disability Survey into the lived experience of people with disabilities, including perceptions and discrimination, housing, employment, education, shopping, leisure and public services.
This sets out a vision and actions to tackle gendered inequalities women and men face across their lives. Published in 2019.
An independent policy, research and development organisation dedicated to lifelong learning, full employment and inclusion. Useful information on achievement and employment gaps. Resources on young adult carers and care leavers.
Membership association for organisations that offer specialist provision for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
The Black º£½ÇÉçÇø Group was set up in July 2020 to challenge systemic racism for the benefit of all and to be the authoritative voice of anti-racism in the F/HE, schools, public, voluntary and private sectors.
The Women’s º£½ÇÉçÇø Network aims to promote intersectional gender equality in the FE, skills and lifelong learning.
A free online ETF course for anybody who works in FE and aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the role of EDI in further education.
A course organised by ETF to support FE managers and leaders embrace equity, diversity and inclusion as a personal priority and to equip delegates with the necessary skills to implement impactful change in their organisations.
A programme organised by ETF for middle leaders in the FE and Skills sector. It includes a module ‘Leading Inclusively’ which helps participants explore what they need to think about and do to embed EDI in their management practice.
Part of a series of ETF webpages with resources, learning and other CPD in relation to SEND (Special º£½ÇÉçÇøal Needs and Disabilities), such as working in the sector, teaching and learning, learning differences and wellbeing, leadership and management, employers and employability.
Part of a series of ETF webpages with CPD, courses and other resources focused on EDI.
Online support organised by ETF to provide governors with knowledge and skills to enable effective and inclusive leadership.
An organisation that stands up for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people. Provides courses and resources for schools and colleges and inclusive workplaces.
The UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for intersectional gender equality and women’s rights at work, in the home and in public life. The website provides reports and research into the experience of women.
An organisation set up to engage men in brave and transformative rethinking of what ‘being a man’ means, and to develop identities and behaviours that are healthier for themselves and others.
Ageism is a prejudice hidden in plain sight. This campaign is about challenging ageism to make work, media and society more inclusive.
Aimed at Advanced Practitioners, but valuable for anybody leading on EDI in their organisation, it provides strategies and ideas for using thinking environment tools with colleagues to support deeper thinking and self-awareness.
Inclusive leadership is emerging as a unique and critical capability helping organisations adapt to diverse customers, markets, ideas and talent. Aimed at business but equally relevant to FE and skills.
These tools are a powerful way to create inclusive spaces for independent thinking, diversity of voices, equality of space to think and be heard and appreciation for what we all bring to the conversation.
This podcast by Natalie Betts and residents at HMP Portland explores the impact of labelling in prison education.
In this article, Ellisha Soanes, award-winning EDI specialist, outlines her top tips on how educators can embed black history and EDI into their ethos and curriculum all year round.
A podcast with numerous presenters exploring why menopause matters in FE, why this is a collective responsibility and why it matters to individuals and to organisations.
Hilda Koon, Manchester College, explains her three strands to creating a sustainable culture of EDI, including a curriculum review, developing common language and vocabulary and coaching development.
Leaders at Darlington Borough Council and Bishop Auckland College collaborated to enable staff to work in communities of practice to build confidence in promoting equality, celebrating diversity, going beyond tokenistic attention to EDI and to take greater responsibility for making EDI central to practitioners teaching.
Published in 2017, this ground-breaking book explores structural racism, white privilege and why the author can no longer talk to white people about race.
Published in 2014, ‘Everyday Sexism’ is an analysis of modern day misogyny and sexism.
There are so many aspects to EDI, it’s hard to recommend what you might want to read about. Check out the top reads on Good Reads for ‘diversity and inclusion’ for more recommendations.
Social media can be a really good way to access short 1-2 minute reads of information on EDI. These are examples of accounts on Instagram: