Peters in partnership with Lit in Colour

Did you know that fewer than 2% of students at GCSE study a book by a writer of colour?

We're pleased to be supporting Penguin's Lit in Colour campaign, which aims to increase students’ access to more books by writers of colour, and has been supporting schools to make the teaching and learning of English literature more inclusive.

Alongside The Runnymede Trust, Penguin commissioned the 'Diversity in Literature in English Schools' report in 2020, which found that there are still a number of obstacles to teaching more diverse texts in schools, including lack of time, overstretched budgets, limited teacher confidence and subject knowledge.

The effect of studying a text by an author of colour: The Lit in Colour Pioneers Pilot

In the 2020 report, it was found that 0.7% of GCSE students write an exam answer about a book by an author of colour. In the latest Lit in Colour report, published in 2024, that has doubled to 1.5%.

The research revealed that students are more likely to report that they found the stories and characters more relevant to their lives and communities, and that students achieved across the full range of marks answering on a new text, including at the very highest levels.

Become a Lit in Colour Pioneer

The Lit in Colour Pioneers Programme began in 2021 and has supported over 250 schools and 29,000 learners to enrich their learning by studying texts written by authors of colour. Now in its fifth year, the programme is back to offer more schools and colleges support in diversifying their English curriculum.

Entries are now open and will close on Friday 17 January 2025, so apply now to become a part of the change.

Lit in Colour book packs

To help support schools to make English Literature teaching more inclusive, we've created new Lit in Colour book packs in partnership with Penguin, which will give you the chance to purchase books from the (incomplete) Lit in Colour book lists with 20% off the RRP.

Order Lit in Colour book packs

Order Lit in Colour book packs

Find out more and order books from the (incomplete) Lit in Colour book lists in a single easy pack.

View the Lit in Colour research

View the Lit in Colour research

Diversity in Literature in English schools: read the full report from Penguin Random House and The Runnymede Trust.

Visit the Lit in Colour website

Visit the Lit in Colour website

Find out more about the Lit in Colour campaign on the Penguin website.