A network connecting South Asian educators across all stages of education

Identity & Agency in Primary: South Asian heritage Teachers’ Voices

One in five Londoners identify as South Asian heritage, yet very little research focuses on South Asian heritage teachers in primary schools. This doctoral research centres teachers’ voices, drawing on their experiences during recent social and political tensions in the UK and globally. Teachers highlight how their own journeys of feeling excluded or unseen at school now shape the way they teach. They use the curriculum as a space to build belonging, challenge inequity, and help all children feel valued. Rather than avoiding difference, their classrooms encourage curiosity, respect, and connection. Their stories offer practical inspiration for teachers everywhere and highlight the transformative, agentic work they do despite ongoing barriers. This work shows how everyday teaching can become a powerful way to support both students and teachers, and to imagine fairer futures in our schools.