Dr Funke was part of the DEIJ panel that discussed the sense of belonging in a school setting. A sense of belonging is the feeling of being accepted by the school community. It is essential that students feel like they are a part of their school and have a place where they belong. Students who feel like they don't fit in will be less likely to do well in school.

A student's sense of belonging can be affected by many factors. For example, if they come from a diverse background and are dealing with racism or sexism, they may not feel like they belong at school. Dr Funke stressed the importance of psychological safety. Students also need to feel safe to focus on what they wish to achieve. If there are issues with bullying or other problems at school, it will affect how students feel about attending classes and interacting with other students.

It’s crucial for schools to create policies that address these issues so that students can feel safe when attending class and develop a sense of belonging within their communities.