Resources

Breaking Down Educational Barriers for GRT Learners

Firstly, Happy New Year! It was a very snowy start to 2025 in the north, which caused all the usual excitement and disruption. Glee from the children at unplanned snow days and a collective groan from all parents at having to find yet more entertainment – after all novel ideas/resources had been depleted over the Christmas break 😅.

Now, less about snow and more about my latest publication which will give you insight into a ‘hidden’ community. I am excited to share my latest piece of research, which focuses on the educational experiences of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) community. The paper sheds light on the unique challenges facing the GRT community in accessing education.

The GRT community is one of the most excluded ethnic minorities in the UK and still faces widespread discrimination and negative stereotyping. As a result, many GRT young people feel like they are operating outside of the system and ultimately forgotten about.

I had the privilege of being invited on to Traveller sites and into the homes of GRT families while researching this article, speaking to both parents and young people about their experiences in education. Most of the time, sadly, these were not positive.

Drawing on this research, my study sheds new light on the barriers GRT individuals face in mainstream education.

Key areas explored include:

• Barriers to mainstream education: Cultural expectations and the prejudices faced by members of the GRT community often lead them to leave education early.
• The impact of tailored initiatives: Flexible, culturally sensitive programmes like the Lincolnshire Traveller Initiative (LTI) have enabled GRT learners to succeed educationally while respecting the traditions of their community.
• The importance of trust: Engaging respectfully with GRT communities and collaborating with them is crucial to ensure that educational initiatives are both accessible and effective.

You can read the full article by clicking below or download a key summary:

YOUR NEXT STEPS

I will also be sharing more digestible snippets and insights from my paper on my LinkedIn page over the coming weeks. You can follow me here.

Also, don’t forget to listen to The Student Outcomes Podcast, my regular podcast where I sit down with thought leaders and delve into wider issues around parity and access to higher education. We have some exciting guests confirmed for 2025!

By the way, if you’re curious about how we uncover insights like these, you can explore our research services at Cosmos Insight. We have conducted research with over 100,000 disadvantaged students – and counting.

Until next time.