Written by Sharon Warmington
Sharon is a diversity of race advocate and trainer, and CEO of the National Black Governors Network. She is an experienced academy trustee and school governor, corporate governance specialist. As an international Governance Practitioner and local school Governor, Sharon Warmington is also a public speaker, facilitator and a strategic leader, having worked nationally and internationally on projects in the private, public and third sector.
The room fell silent. A lone voice cut through the air like a scalpel.
“If we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll always get what we’ve always got.”
A murmur of agreement rippled across the table, but the truth hung heavy. Governance in education wasn’t evolving fast enough. The diversity deficit on school boards was glaring, and yet the solution was tantalisingly within reach.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). A well-rehearsed mantra, a neatly arranged acronym, but in practice? Too often, it was all lettuce—bland, predictable, offering little more than a base layer. And just like a dull, uninspired salad, governance without true DEIB lacked texture, colour, and depth.
The First Ingredient: Diversity
Imagine stepping into a kitchen with only one ingredient. The outcome is predictable—uninspiring, repetitive, and ultimately ineffective. The same is true for governance.
Without representation across different racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic groups, leadership decisions are made in an echo chamber. Diversity isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s the foundation upon which every other principle of DEIB is built. Without it, equity and inclusion remain unattainable.
The Dressing: Equity
Equity isn’t about throwing different ingredients into the mix and hoping for the best. It’s about recognising that some have been denied access to the kitchen entirely.
A governing board dominated by a single demographic can never truly understand the systemic barriers faced by underrepresented communities. Equity means creating real opportunities, ensuring those at the table have the tools, training, and access they need to contribute meaningfully.
It’s the dressing that brings balance—without it, even the freshest ingredients fail to shine.
The Crunch: Inclusion
Diversity and equity alone are not enough. Inclusion is the crunch, the bite, the assurance that every voice at the table is not just heard but valued.
A tokenistic approach—where individuals from diverse backgrounds are present but sidelined—rings hollow. Effective governance ensures all voices are not just present but shape the conversation. That means active listening, real participation, and a culture where speaking up is met with action, not silence.
The Secret Ingredient: Belonging
The final element, the one that brings it all together, is belonging.
A salad with great ingredients but no harmony is still a mess. The same applies to governance. If board members feel like outsiders—constantly having to prove their worth, explain their existence, or justify their perspectives—then DEIB has failed.
Belonging is the ultimate goal. It’s the point where leaders no longer ‘accommodate’ difference but celebrate it. It’s where representation is no longer an initiative but an expectation.
The Governance Gap: A Recipe for Change
The Department for Education (DfE) mandates that schools and trusts prioritise diversity in governance. The Public Sector Equality Duty requires active promotion of equality and inclusion. And yet, how many governing boards truly reflect the communities they serve?
The data tells its own story. Governing boards remain overwhelmingly white, predominantly male, and heavily weighted towards those over 50. Meanwhile, young voices, Black and Asian perspectives, and disabled representation remain painfully absent.
The solution? A new approach.
Turning Theory into Action
If schools are serious about DEIB, they must move beyond rhetoric. This means:
- Mapping the gaps: Who is missing from your governing board?
- Expanding the search: Looking beyond the usual networks—engaging with Black professional groups, student unions, disability organisations.
- Creating real pathways: Making governance accessible for those who may never have considered it.
DEIB isn’t about optics—it’s about outcomes. Schools with diverse governance bodies are better equipped to navigate the complexities of modern education. They make stronger decisions, build more inclusive policies, and ultimately create better environments for students.
The Call to Action
So, the question isn’t whether DEIB is important—it’s whether we’re brave enough to do the work.
Are we prepared to step beyond our comfort zones? To challenge long-standing norms? To build governing boards that truly represent the schools they serve?
The choice is ours. We can keep serving up plain lettuce, or we can create something extraordinary.