Written by Gemma Hathaway
EDI Trust Lead for Inspire Education Trust, Assistant Headteacher at Blue Coat School Coventry.
At Blue Coat School Coventry, our partnership with Penguin and Pearson through the Lit in Colour project has been transformational. It has reimagined how we engage with English literature, ensuring that the stories we teach truly reflect the diversity of the world our students live in.
As the EDI Trust Lead (Inspire Education Trust), I have been privileged to work alongside the English department in this pioneering project. It’s been about more than simply adding new books to the curriculum — it’s been about fostering a deeper, more authentic approach to inclusion. Through this project, we have embraced the belief that literature has the power to validate identities, open minds, and create communities rooted in understanding and empathy.
Choosing The Empress
As part of Lit in Colour, we made the bold decision to teach Tanika Gupta’s powerful book The Empress at GCSE. Set against the backdrop of British colonial history, the play explores the relationships between Queen Victoria, Abdul Karim, and Rani Das, a young ayah from India.
Choosing The Empress was a courageous move — it challenged traditional literary choices and brought forward voices that have too often been marginalised. As a school community, we knew this would be a bold step, but one that was absolutely necessary.
Shaped by Broader Conversations
Our journey has not happened in isolation. The work of organisations like Diverse Educators, Equaliteach, and the ASCL EDI sub-groups has played a huge part in supporting us to approach this work with authenticity and integrity. Through dialogue, training, and collaboration, we’ve deepened our understanding that genuine change requires courage, reflection, and a commitment to ongoing learning. We have proudly embraced the idea that it’s okay to feel uncomfortable at times — because that discomfort signals that something meaningful is shifting.
Recognition and Gratitude
It was an incredible honour when Pearson recognised Blue Coat School as a Bronze Winner in the ‘Making a Difference’ category of their national awards. This accolade celebrates schools that have gone above and beyond in driving positive change — and it felt like a powerful acknowledgement of the journey we have been on.
We are so grateful to Pearson, Penguin, and the Lit in Colour team for their partnership and encouragement. Their support has allowed us to be bold, to innovate, and to centre pupil voice in every aspect of decision making.
Looking Ahead
But this is only the beginning. We are excited about the ripple effect this work is already creating — not just within our own school, but across the wider education community.
We are currently working with Tanika Gupta to explore adapting The Empress for a live stage production, offering students an even richer, more immersive experience. It’s another way to bring these powerful stories to life, allowing young people to step into the characters’ shoes and truly understand their journeys.
In May, we will be attending a national celebration event in London, where schools from across the country will gather to continue raising the voices of authors who deserve a platform within our curriculums. We hope to encourage other Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and schools to review their English curriculums with bravery and vision — to be bold in asking: Whose stories are we telling? And whose voices are we still missing?
At Blue Coat, we believe that every student deserves to see themselves in the stories they study. Through projects like Lit in Colour, we are building a future where every voice matters — and where literature truly belongs to us all.
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