Introduction

This chapter explores the varied characteristics that make up the diversity of the classrooms, with a focuses on black and minority ethnic (BME) children and young people, and link them to the personalisation agenda. By highlighting some of the key issues around education in an ethnically diverse classroom, and how personalisation can help respond to these issues, it is hoped that teachers and other education professionals will reflect on their own development and practices in the increasingly ethnically diverse classrooms. Like all significant debates, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact starting point. David Miliband, Schools Standards Minister in 2003, was clear about what personalisation entailed: 'fitting the "learning styles, motivations and needs" of individuals, empowering young people to become self-starters and ready to add to their learning. They consider that these sociological and historical perspectives are important in relation to the personalisation agenda.