Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities

The framework will bring together a set of agreed principles that support students' conduct and engagement on issues that underpin- or, if left unaddressed, undermine - cohesion within education settings and the wider communities they serve. Co-designed with students from diverse backgrounds and experiences, their voice and actions will be at the centre of the framework, its implementation and monitoring and evaluation.

This initiative responds directly to the Government’s Protecting What Matters policy paper,  and has been accelerated in response to the rise in antisemitism, and other forms of hatred. It will be developed in five areas, Greater Manchester, Northwest/North London, Bristol and Gloucestershire, Sunderland and the Northeast and Derby and East Midlands, and then rolled out for wider testing and implementation. If you’re a student in one of these areas and interested in getting involved, please complete Expression of Interest: Community Cohesion Framework form.

Student Unions, and Further Education and Higher Education providers will be able to use the framework to review and strengthen existing policies and promote positive student relationships and civic participation. An accompanying toolkit will help organisations develop local frameworks, charters or initiatives where they don’t exist, offer practical examples of how to build cohesion with students, and establish an approach to monitoring and evaluating what works well.

This work is supported by an expert advisory group, spanning education, civil society, and policy. The empirical research will be led by the University of Salford, comprising student focus groups, stakeholder interviews and desk-based research. Students can also share their view on local community by joining the National Conversation.

This work represents an important opportunity to empower student leaders to drive positive change, and build stronger education settings where empathy, respect and belonging can thrive. A first draft of the framework and toolkit is anticipated by end of the year. 

Advisory group

Nic Beech (Chair), Fran Darlington-Pollock University of Salford (Steering Group)

Kaynat Ahmad, Avery Greatorex National Union of Students (Steering Group)

Zoe Forbes, Vicki Stewart, Jenny Heath, Department for Education (Steering Group)

Akeela Ahmed, British Muslim Trust

Alistair Jarvis, Advance HE

Angela Halston, Independent Higher Education 

Arif Ahmed, Office for Students

Ben Elger, Office of the Independent Adjudicator

Chine McDonald, Theos

Clare Peddie, Quality Council

Emeka Forbes, Together Alliance

Jamie Agombar, Students Organising for Sustainability

Jeff Greenidge, Association of Colleges

Kate Wicklow, Guild HE

Mervyn Kaye, Ruben Persey, Union of Jewish Students

Rosie Tressler, Student Minds

Vanessa Ogden, Department for Education 

Vivienne Stern, Universities UK