At its core, social justice is about fairness, inclusion, and ensuring that all people, regardless of their background, have access to the same opportunities. Achieving social justice doesn’t just mean treating everyone the same.

It means recognising the barriers that exist and taking steps to remove them. That’s where equity comes in.

Equity vs. Equality:

Equality means giving everyone the same resources and opportunities. Equity, on the other hand, acknowledges that not everyone starts from the same place and that some groups face systemic disadvantages that require different levels of support to create a truly fair society. Equity means bringing disadvantaged groups up to the same outcomes of their non-disadvantaged peers.

Nowhere is this more evident than in education. Schools should be places of learning, growth, and empowerment, but too often, we see young people being held back by structural inequalities. We work to tackle these injustices head-on.

What can inequity look like in schools?

Here are just a few examples of the social justice issues we come across in our work:

Discriminatory school policies – students from low-income backgrounds can be excluded from education because of strict uniform policies or the inability to afford school supplies. Instead of addressing the root causes of poverty, schools often punish students for circumstances beyond their control.

A free school uniform policy guidance for schools is available on our website. This guidance is the outcome of a UCL Community Engaged Learning project and outlines how teachers/senior leaders can consider uniform policy in a way that centres children's rights and well-being.

Underrepresentation among educators – education should reflect the diversity of the students it serves, yet there are disproportionately few teachers who are visibly trans, queer, disabled, or people of colour. When students don’t see themselves represented in leadership, they may internalise the idea that certain careers or roles aren’t “for them”.

A Eurocentric curriculum – from history to science and maths, the school curriculum often prioritises the contributions of European scholars while ignoring or erasing knowledge from non-European cultures. It is also not a requirement to teach about the British Empire in the National Curriculum. For instance, we often learn about Pythagoras and his Theorem, but do not acknowledge the mathematical advancements of Islamic, Indian, or African scholars who shaped algebra and geometry long before European mathematicians.

Young people fighting for change

While these injustices are deeply ingrained, young people have consistently been at the forefront of demanding change. Here are some inspiring examples:

Ruby Williams – a student from Hackney who took her school to the European Court of Human Rights after experiencing racial discrimination due to its uniform policy.

Student Walkouts Against Sexist Dress Codes – across the UK and beyond, young people have staged protests against school rules that disproportionately target girls and reinforce gender stereotypes.

Marcus Rashford’s Free School Meals Campaign – the footballer successfully campaigned for the government to extend free school meals, ensuring that children from low-income families didn’t go hungry.

Pimlico Academy Protests – students staged a walkout to challenge racist uniform policies and the school’s decision to raise the Union Jack flag despite student concerns.

Youth-Led Activism – groups like Kids of Colour and The Advocacy Academy are empowering young people to fight for racial and social justice in their schools and communities.

How inclusive RSE can help

One of the ways we can work towards a more just and equitable society is through inclusive, intersectional feminist RSE. By addressing inequalities within relationships, gender roles and power structures, RSE helps young people understand their rights, challenge discrimination, and build more inclusive communities.