Session 4: Race in the secondary years

Introduction

As young people move through secondary school, their understanding of race, identity and racism becomes more complex. This is another crucial time of a young person’s life as adolescence not in glossary is when teenagers are going through major emotional, social and mental changes that shape how they see themselves, their friends, and the world around them. Secondary school is when young people are really figuring out who they are and where they fit in society.

During these years, teenagers have many different experiences that affect how they think about race and develop their own racial identity. These experiences come from interactions with friends, teachers, what they learn in class, and what they see in the media and wider society. For young people from racially minoritised backgrounds, secondary school can either help build their confidence and sense of identity or it can create challenges like feeling left out, experiencing discrimination, or starting to believe negative things about their own racial group.

Teachers, parents and school leaders all have important roles in creating the kind of school environment that shapes how students experience race and racism. When schools have inclusive policies, represent different cultures in their teaching materials, and actively address issues around race, they help create places where students feel seen, valued and respected. When schools don’t pay attention to these issues, it can make stereotypes worse, create more divisions between groups, and hurt the confidence and learning of students from diverse backgrounds.

In this session, you will explore how race and racism manifest in secondary school settings, examining the stages of racial identity development during adolescence, the role of educators and peers, and the impact of school policies and practices. You will also consider the psychological and educational effects of racism on students, highlighting strategies for fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment. By the end of this session, you will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to contribute to better support young people as they navigate their journeys of racial identity.

By the end of this session, you should be able to:

• talk about how teenagers develop their racial identity and know how young people’s sense of race and identity changes during secondary school
• identify what influences young people’s views about race and demonstrate how friends, teachers, family, lessons and the media shape teenagers’ thinking about race
• recognise how racism affects young people and what impact it has on teenagers’ wellbeing and school success
• use practical strategies to support young people through addressing racism and helping all young people feel valued and included.