About the Book
Every learner, no matter their starting points or backgrounds, and no matter their additional and different needs, should have a fair and equitable chance of succeeding at school. This second book in the Equity in Education series explores ways of making the curriculum, teaching, and assessment more inclusive of every child.
It considers the reasonable adjustments teachers can make to support children with additional and different needs, and it examines the role oracy and reading for pleasure can play in ‘levelling the playing field’ for disadvantaged learners in helping them compete equitably with their peers. Providing a practical roadmap to ensure lesson planning, teaching strategies, and assessment methods are inclusive of every child, the chapters cover:
Inclusive curriculum planning
Talking to students’ lived experiences
Adaptive teaching and reasonable adjustments
Assistive technologies
Attainment gaps including those caused by gender, ethnicity, SEND, socio-economic deprivation, mobility, and being in care
Belonging and well-being
Oracy and reading for pleasure
Offering actionable guidance and strategies, the book sets out the practical ways teachers can create a classroom environment where all students can thrive. As such, it is essential reading for all teachers and school leaders who want to give every child an equitable chance of success at school and in later life.
Table of Contents:
Part 1: Equality, diversity and inclusion 1. Thomas and Tommy 2. Equality, diversity, and inclusion 3. The 3Cs of inclusion Part 2: Mind the gaps 4. The gender gap 5. The ethnicity gap 6. The SEND gap 7. The socio-economic gap 8. The vulnerable children gap 9. The mobility gap 10. Other causes of difference and disadvantage Part 3: Inclusive planning, teaching, and assessment 11. Inclusive lesson planning 12. Inclusive teaching 13. Inclusive assessment 14. The SEND system Part 4: Oracy and reading for pleasure 15. Oracy and inclusion 16. Oracy - the road to equity 17. Reading for pleasure Part 5: Putting it into practice 18. Action planning
About the Author :
Matt Bromley is CEO of bee and Chair of the Building Equity in Education Campaign. He is an education journalist, author, and advisor with over 25 years’ experience in teaching and leadership including as a secondary school headteacher and academy principal, further education college vice principal, and multi-academy trust director. He is a public speaker, trainer, initial teacher training lecturer, and school improvement advisor. He remains a practising teacher, currently working in secondary, FE, and HE settings. Matt writes for various education magazines including SecEd and Headteacher Update, and he is a columnist on The Yorkshire Post. He is the author of numerous best-selling books on education, and he co-hosts an award-winning podcast.
Review :
“In the second book in the Equity in Education series, Matt Bromley extends and deepens his discussion of inclusion in education across all aspects of this vital concept. Accessible, practical and rooted in schools and classrooms, Making the Classroom Work for Every Child is an excellent "how to" guide for every teacher looking to make their classroom more inclusive.”
Chris Hildrew, Headteacher at Churchill Academy & Sixth Form
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“Why School Doesn’t Work for Every Child is the clarion call that our education system needs if we are to finally overcome the consequences of disadvantage and inequality that too many children and young people face.
As we have come to expect, Matt Bromley offers insightful and practical advice for schools and educators striving to make a difference for their students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
His ability to distill complex educational concepts into actionable strategies makes his writing a valuable resource for teachers and school leaders at all levels. This is why he is one of SecEd's most prolific and popular authors.
His ideas are grounded in real-world classroom experience, making them both relevant to the challenges schools are facing today and easily adaptable and actionable for your school's context.
Matt Bromley has become one of the most relevant, useful and inspiring voices in education – and this book is no exception.”
Pete Henshaw, Editor for SecEd and Headteacher Update magazines
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“I love this book!!!
This book focuses on the hugely complex issues of equity and inclusion, with a real razor sharp focus on the causes and consequences of what it is to be a disadvantaged student.
Where Matt gets it right is to focus on practical and simple solutions and he keeps the focus tight, honing in on the importance of attendance, positive behaviour and generating a community.
If you want a book that is brimming with practical advice, hints, tips and guidance from someone who actually does the job then this is the book for you. The secret is the author keeps it real!
What a gem of a read. Bravo!”
Sam Strickland, Principal and CEO
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“Matt's book series is a timely collection for UK based educators looking to level the playing field for disadvantaged students and 'build more equity in education'.
Matt's ABC framework provides a meaningful reference point to help cut through the complexities required to create an inclusive school culture. In addition, his framework will help schools to unpick institutional factors that prevent students from attending school.
No matter your stance in education, this book series is essential reading.”
Bukky Yusuf, Leadership Coach
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“Rooted in the realities of children’s lives, this book from master story-teller Matt Bromley will prove invaluable in helping school leaders ask themselves hard but essential questions about equity and inclusion.”
Jean Gross CBE, former government Communication Champion for children
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“In this essential first volume of the Equity in Education series, Matt Bromley confronts one of today’s most pressing challenges: building a culture of true inclusion and belonging in schools.
With a fresh look at educational disadvantage and the widening societal divide, Bromley offers practical, research-backed strategies to create environments where every student can thrive.
Anchored in real-world school experience, the book’s straightforward ABC framework—Attendance, Behaviours, and Community—equips educators with actionable tools to address inequity head-on.
This is more than a call for change; it’s a guide for educators ready to make a meaningful impact and challenges the misconception that we can do this alone with high expectations and zero tolerance approaches in schools.”
Sean Harris, Director of People, Learning and Community Engagement, Tees Valley Education
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“Why School Doesn’t Work for Every Child neatly brings together the evidence and offers practical steps for those working on school priority areas such as attendance. This book reminds us to put learner and family experiences of school life at the forefront of our work, and to continuously reflect on our work on inclusion to ensure school works for every child.”
Kate Anstey, Director of Education, the Child Poverty Action Group
