Opinion: Rethinking Inclusion: A Call to Schools from a Youth Ambassador By Andrei Butu, Youth Ambassador, Att10tive Social Enterprise
Att10tive Youth Ambassador Andrei Butu who migrated to the UK from Romania, gives his opinions on how schools can help children from immigrant families better integrate and be included within our schools.
Education is often described as the great equaliser. But for many immigrant students like myself, it can also be a mirror of exclusion. My journey through Luton’s education system was shaped by both opportunity and isolation.
As a Romanian student, I didn’t fit the stereotypes. That made me “different.” Not in a celebratory way, but in a way that made me feel like a sphere trying to fit into a cube. I wasn’t just an outsider among other cultures—I sometimes felt like an outsider within my own.
Over time, I learned that not fitting in isn’t a flaw. It’s a strength. But that lesson came slowly, through trial, error, and moments of deep discomfort. The pandemic intensified this. I became obsessed with perfection, buried in work, and struggled to maintain friendships. It wasn’t until I joined an Att10tive session that I began to understand balance and time management.
Including Young People
One memory that still stings is the annual “culture day.” These events were meant to celebrate diversity, but they often felt superficial. Flags were waved, food was shared, but deeper understanding was missing. My culture—Romanian—was barely acknowledged. And when it was, it was often misunderstood. In a town like Luton, rich in heritage and diversity, culture shouldn’t be reduced to a one-day performance. It should be woven into the everyday fabric of school life.
This isn’t a criticism of the schools I attended. It’s a challenge to all schools: to reflect, to listen, and to do better. Too often, the “tyranny of the majority” sidelines smaller communities. But this can change—if we choose to make space for every voice.
What mattered most in my journey wasn’t just the lessons or the grades. It was the people. The ones who walked beside me, challenged me, supported me. Education is about relationships. And it’s through those relationships that real inclusion begins.
Recommendations for Schools: Moving Beyond the Flag
To truly embed foreign students and those who feel like outsiders, schools must go beyond symbolic gestures. Here’s how:
1. Rethink Culture Days
- Shift from one-off events to ongoing cultural education. Real meaningful learning about cultures and peoples.
- Include student-led storytelling, history, and lived experiences—not just food and flags
- Ensure people from smaller nations and communities are represented and understood, not just acknowledged
2. Create Safe Spaces for Identity
- Establish peer-led forums or affinity groups where students can share their experiences
- Train staff to recognise and challenge stereotypes and microaggressions
3. Embed Cultural Literacy in the Curriculum
- Integrate migration stories, heritage, and global perspectives into subjects like history, literature, and PSHE
- Use local context—like Luton’s rich cultural tapestry—as a teaching tool
4. Foster Belonging from Day One
- Pair new students with cultural ambassadors or buddies who understand their background
- Offer induction sessions that go beyond logistics and focus on emotional wellbeing and identity
5. Invest in Staff Training
- Equip teachers with tools to support students from diverse backgrounds
- Include trauma-informed practices and cultural humility in CPD programmes
6. Amplify Student Voice
- Involve students in decision-making about inclusion policies and cultural events
- Use platforms like school councils, youth panels, and creative media to elevate seldom-heard voices
7. Celebrate Complexity
- Recognise that identity is layered—students may belong to multiple cultures, communities, and experiences
- Avoid tokenism by allowing students to define their own narratives
Final Thoughts: Moving Beyond the Flag
Schools have the power to shape futures—but that power must be used with intention, empathy, and a commitment to equity. Inclusion isn’t about ticking boxes or hosting themed assemblies. It’s about embedding belonging into the everyday rhythm of school life.
Let’s move beyond the flag—and into the heart of what culture really means. Let’s create spaces where every student, regardless of background, feels seen, heard, and valued—not just once a year, but every single day.
Andrei Butu is a Youth Ambassador with Att10tive Social Enterprise, amplifying youth voice and advocating for inclusive education and community engagement.
Learn more about Att10tive’s mission at Att10tive.com