KMT's Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
At KMT, our mission is to support education for a better world. We are dedicated to creating a teaching profession that is equitable, diverse, and inclusive, and we are passionate about dismantling the systemic barriers that prevent talented individuals from entering and thriving in this rewarding career.
Why EDI matters in education
The persistent gap between the ethnic diversity of the teaching workforce and the student population is a significant challenge. For instance, in England, while 38% of pupils are from a minority ethnic background, only 11.4% of teachers are.
While Kent overall is less ethnically diverse (21%) than the national picture, there is more variance between districts: the highest proportion of children with global majority backgrounds are in Dartford (44%) and Gravesham (37%) while the lowest are in Dover (11.5%), Folkestone/Hythe (12%) and Swale (12%). In terms of the teaching workforce in Kent, just 5% of teachers are from global majority backgrounds and 1% of headteachers.
A diverse teaching staff provides powerful role models and enriches the educational experience for all students, not just those from under-represented groups. As the saying goes, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” We believe that a teaching workforce that reflects the communities it serves is essential for a truly equitable and effective education system.
"The teaching workforce should reflect the communities they serve. A diverse workforce brings diverse perspectives, enriches the educational experience, and provides important role models for all pupils." — NFER, 2024
Our journey:
Widening participation & real impact
As one of the most established SCITT providers in the South East—with a network representing well over half of all schools in Kent and spanning Medway, South East London, and Sussex—our pupil reach exceeds 187,600 children across primary, secondary, selective, non-selective, independent, and special schools. We believe deeply that a teaching workforce reflecting the communities it serves is essential for a truly equitable and effective education system. As the saying goes: “You can’t be what you can’t see.”
We have long taken pride in being a widening participation provider. Our work to diversify our cohorts along key metrics is established:
71% of our cohort are career changers aged over 25 (compared to 53% nationally).
30.5% of our trainees declared a health condition or disability during interview (compared to 19% nationally).
The increasing diversity in ITT project
Eighteen months ago, KMT was selected through NASBTT as one of a small group of accredited ITT providers to participate in the increasing diversity in ITT project—a collaborative initiative with the Chartered College of Teaching, Chiltern Learning Trust, and Being Luminary, funded by Mission 44’s Diversity in Education Fund.
Under expert coaching from Harroop Sandhu, we turned inward to examine our processes, address unconscious bias, and dismantle inequitable barriers facing applicants from global majority backgrounds.
The Impact of Phase 1
The data from this intensive work speaks to what is possible when strategy is backed by self-reflection:
- Cohort diversity: Trainees from global majority backgrounds at KMT rose to 22% (up from 7.7% in 2020–21).
- Regional recognition: Data collated by the project placed KMT in the top 10 regional SCITTs for recruiting trainees from global majority backgrounds.
- Local parity: All of our secondary hubs now match or exceed Kent pupil averages for global majority representation.
Beyond the numbers, the shift in psychological safety and support within our cohorts has been profound:
"I feel heard, that is the most important thing for me." — KMT Associate Teacher
"Knowing that my concerns are taken seriously and resolved promptly reinforces the idea that inclusion is not only about classroom practice but also about fostering strong professional relationships and psychological safety." — KMT Associate Teacher
How we support you:
Inclusive action in practice
We design every step of your teacher training journey to ensure you are valued, safe, and empowered to succeed.
1. Inclusive recruitment & selection
We aim to contact every applicant, even where eligibility questions arise. We provide:
- Pre-interview ‘Insight Sessions’: Tailored guidance on navigating overseas qualifications, visa requirements, and personal statements.
- Transparent preparation: Overview of interview question types in advance to help reduce anxiety.
- Centralised, fair interviews: Conducted by leaders trained in unconscious bias.
2. Dedicated support: Third Space Mentoring
While every Associate Teacher receives core support from their school-based mentor and KMT Course Programme Lead, we recognise that navigating identity within a school environment can bring unique challenges. In some settings, an Associate Teacher may be the only person sharing their specific identity.
Our Third Space Mentoring programme provides a neutral, reflective space with mentors (including alumni) who share similar lived experiences. It offers a safe environment to explore authenticity and vulnerability across several key areas:
- Age & career changers: Supporting those shifting their professional identity from expert to novice.
- SEND & disability: Supporting neurodivergent educators and those with disabilities or long-term conditions to self-advocate and develop sustainable coping strategies.
- Sexuality & gender: Supporting LGBTQ+ Associate Teachers in navigating school life safely and authentically.
- Race & ethnicity: Supporting racialised trainees in exploring their experiences and navigating the weight of representation.
- Parenthood: Supporting parents of young children to balance wellbeing with caring and training responsibilities.
3. Responsive, anti-racist curriculum
We prepare future educators to be inclusive leaders. Our curriculum trains you to understand barriers to learning, teach accessibly, discuss race and racism with confidence, and actively address discrimination in the classroom. When contextual events arise, we swiftly provide podcasts, discussion prompts, and classroom resources to guide difficult conversations around flags, identity, and belonging.
Where we are now:
Phase 2 & sector-wide accountability
The formal Diversity in ITT project is complete, but our work is far from finished. As a provider working with over 350 partner schools, KMT is using its regional influence to lead Phase 2 of our Equity Strategy:
- Mentorship & trainee advocacy training: Equipping all colleagues who work with trainee teachers with actionable frameworks to advocate for trainees and directly intervene if issues arise on placement.
- Mentor leadership and training: Redesigning mentor training in partnership with school leaders to focus on racial literacy, power dynamics, building trust, and standardising response protocols for discrimination.
- Clear demarcation of assessment & safety: Ensuring complete clarity before assessment points that no single individual or placement venue holds absolute power over your award of QTS. You can speak up about discrimination without fear of professional penalty.
- Regional racial literacy working party: Bringing together trainees, ECTs, mentors, and school leaders across our partnership to share lived experiences and establish best-practice guidelines for all partner schools.
An invitation to join us
At KMT, our journey toward complete racial literacy and educational equity is ongoing. We do not claim to have every answer, but we have built the courage to name discomfort, confront racism, and drive systemic change.
Increasing diversity in ITT and the wider workforce is not a checklist item or a project with an end date. It is an enduring commitment to creating a profession where every trainee—regardless of background—is safe, valued, and empowered to thrive.
If you are thinking of training to teach, we invite you to take your next steps with KMT. Together with our partner schools, we are building a fairer, more inclusive future for education.
Polly Butterfield-Tracey
SCITT Director
This project aligns with our commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable environment for aspiring teachers. We look forward to working with the Chartered College of Teaching and other partners to make a real difference across the region we serve.
Sefika Sakalli
Head of Recruitment
Every applicant matters to us. We aim to make contact with every applicant to offer a pre-interview chat that covers everything from eligibility and degree equivalents to offering tips for writing a strong personal statement for those thinking of applying, helping to ensure your best possible chance at a successful interview.
