In 2004, 17 percent of the maintained school population in England was classified as belonging to a minority ethnic group. The largest of these groups (at just under 6 percent) was categorised as Multiple Heritage. National demographic data suggests that this group is growing at a faster rate than any other minority group.

Who are the mix-d group?

There are currently four classifications of this group in the Annual School Census: The largest group is White/Black Caribbean, then Any Other Mix-d background, followed by White/Asian and then White/Black African being the smallest mix-d category.

What are some of the identified national issues?

• Significant under-attainment*
• Disproportionate exclusions*
• Over-representation on the Special Educational Needs Register*
• Over-representation in Looked-After figures*
• Mix-d experiences omitted from policy/guidelines/curriculum
• Debates around same-race placements in fostering/adoption
• Stereotyping and resultant low expectations
• ‘Lone mothers’ and lack of access to different cultural backgrounds to their own
• Gender differentials in terms of achievement
• Lack of appropriate terminology
• Insistence from others that Mix-d people must identify themselves as 'monoheritage' in order to grow and survive
• Official reluctance to discuss issues related to race/ethnicity e.g. 'colour blind' approach

* These issues are distinctly marked for the white/black groups.

Information gathered from:

• DfES, 2005; Ethnicity and Education: The Evidence on Minority Ethnic Pupils
• DfES; 2004, Understanding the Educational Needs of Mixed Heritage Pupils, Tikly, Caballero, Haynes & Hill