Lit in Colour Pioneer Programme

Posted at 9:47 am on 5th May, 2021

Flixton Girls School staff have their ear to the ground when it comes to staying ahead of the curve and accessing relevant programmes which can provide a wider curriculum which reflects the society in which we live today. 

We understand it is essential that our students are given access to books by Black, Asian and minority ethnic writers and those from a range of backgrounds, to ensure a better reflection of contemporary culture and society, and to provide students with experiences beyond their own culture and ones that may resonate with them.

This is why we have to congratulate our English department and specifically Catherine Jones, Assistant Head of English for being selected for the first ever ‘Lit in Colour Pioneers Programme’. The programme, run by Pearson UK who have joined forces with Penguin and The Runnymede Trust, aims to collaborate with schools to embed a more diverse English Literature curriculum.

The programme commences in May and over the course of the next six months Flixton Girls School, as one of the 100 pioneer schools will have free access to copies of the chosen set texts for every student in the relevant year group, donated by Penguin. A programme of work and series of free resources including CPD training webinars for teachers and school librarians, plus qualification support and training where required.

Support programmes of work for each set text including creative content from authors plus videos and a range of resources to support the specification. A Lit in Colour mini library including 300 free Penguin books by Black, Asian and minority ethnic writers designed for all age groups, together with colourful posters and artwork. Along with a student ambassador programme.

At FGS we understand and appreciate that every young person deserves an educational experience that more fully reflects Britain’s past and the lives of its young people today.

In recent research by the National Literacy Trust, 32.7% of children and young people in the UK aged 9 to 18 said that they don't see themselves in what they read, and 39.8% would like more books with characters who are similar to them.

Mrs Jones commented, ‘We are thrilled to be involved in this innovative programme from our A-Level exam board Edexcel who have taken affirmative action to broaden the scope of their set texts choices for English Literature. A-Level students will now be studying Samuel Selvon who chronicled post-war Caribbean migration to Britain, alongside the writing of modern Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie.  Students of all ages will benefit from the wider selection of library books and we will use the new texts as a springboard to revitalise our extra-curricular book clubs.

Find out more about Lit in Colour on the Penguin website

Read the National Literacy Trust research