Lack of diversity in teaching in England means minority ethnic pupils miss out

Researchers say ‘not being taught by someone who looks and sounds like them’ can affect pupils’ classroom experience. Photograph: skynesher/Getty Images

Pupils in parts of England are likely to never have a teacher of the same ethnic background, in part because minority ethnic applicants are less likely to be accepted on to teacher training courses, research has revealed.

The north-east has the least diverse teaching workforce in the country, with students of Pakistani or black-African origin likely to never have a teacher of similar ethnicity in their classrooms.