Consultancy focused on advancing diversity, equity, and enhancing educational institutions.
Hello, I’m Mark.
I have spent almost 40 years in my career in posts that promote diversity, and equality for some of the most marginalised groups in education. This began in the 1980s in the struggle to mainstream provision for EAL learners at a time when Black and minority ethnic pupils who were new to the UK were taught in separate educational establishments to their White British peers. Even after these so-called ‘language centres' were abolished, there was still a need to ensure that mainstream schools took on their responsibilities to ensure the quality of education provision and support for EAL learners was as good as for all other pupil groups. Those hard-won rights have been eroded in recent years as national policies for EAL pupils have been removed by successive governments and support services have been disbanded.
Today we still face disparities in achievement and exclusions by ethnic group. Shining a light on this data at school, MAT and local authority level has never been more important so that the causes can be identified and addressed. In my new role I hope to support educational providers in meeting the needs of those pupils where barriers to success are high, including for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils and new arrivals to the UK.
Read more about the biography & portfolio here.
Our Services
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All aspects of school improvement
Raising the achievement of Black and Minority Ethnic Pupils
Equalities
Effective practice for EAL and ESOL
Gypsy Roma Traveller pupils
Teaching of lesser taught languages
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Reviews offered on curriculum, behaviour and attendance, personal development, leadership and management (including governance and safeguarding)
“Ofsted’s contribution to the [Department for Education stakeholders'] group is particularly welcome. I commend the participation of its Gypsy, Traveller and Roma [GRT] specialist, Mr. Mark Sims, on the [GRT] stakeholder group.”
Baroness Whitaker (Hansard House of Lords 25.2.20)
“You were a great HMI of long standing who never tired of speaking up in Ofsted for equalities, EAL and undervalued groups of pupils such as Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Pupils. If you are looking for experience and expertise with EAL or equalities, then Mark is your go to person.”
Adrian Lyons HMI (2005 to 2021)