When a school welcomes a young person through its doors, creating a true sense of belonging means meeting them exactly where they are.

In this episode of The Kitchen Table, we are joined by Bennie Kara - educator, author, speaker, curriculum specialist, and former deputy headteacher. Bennie began her career in the inaugural Teach First cohort in 2003 and has taught across London and the Midlands. She co-founded Diverse Educators, is the founder of Adhara Education, and is the author of A Little Guide for Teachers: Diversity in Schools.

Together we explore the deep connections between language, belonging, and inclusion, and how schools can move beyond tokenism to weave true diversity into the fabric of their culture.

What You’ll Discover

- Beyond Simple Representation: Why a diverse curriculum is not just about ticking boxes, but about allowing students to see outside of themselves and recognising the full humanity of others.

- A Curriculum of Hope: How to balance challenging historical truths with narratives of joy, agency, and ordinariness so that all students see their heritage valued.

- The Power of Language: Why getting a student’s name right is a fundamental act of respect, and how leaders can create safe spaces where staff can make mistakes, learn, and grow together.

Bennie’s powerful reminder is that belonging is the exact opposite of simply “fitting in.” By moving away from a compliance mindset and committing to long-term cultural change, schools can become places where every child is truly known, valued, and celebrated for who they are.

Connect with Phil Banks

thebelongingcollective.blog.

Connect with Mohamed Abdallah

Substack.

Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu

Substack.

The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Ambition Foundation, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.

What if the secret to academic rigour isn't just a strict curriculum, but a classroom where every child genuinely feels they belong?

In this episode of The Kitchen Table, we sit down with Jon Hutchinson, Director of Curriculum and Teacher Development at the Reach Foundation and author of Building Belonging. Jon shares his journey from focusing purely on instructional rigour to realising that even the best curriculum fails if students are not emotionally and behaviourally engaged. We explore how schools can move past tokenistic gestures to create environments where students feel truly known, valued, and indispensable.

What You’ll Discover

- The Three Pillars of Belonging: Why feeling known, valued, and able to make genuine contributions are the foundational elements of a thriving school culture.

- Dismantling Belonging Uncertainty: How radical transparency and reframing academic struggle can prevent students from internalising failure as a sign that they don't fit in.

- Designing Relational Schools: Practical insights from Reach Academy Feltham on how deliberate architectural and linguistic choices from first-name terms to home visits can dismantle traditional power dynamics and build deep trust.

Building a true sense of belonging isn't about lowering standards or avoiding hard work. It is about creating the high-trust environments necessary for students to take the ultimate academic risk: trying, failing, and growing in front of their peers.

Connect with Phil Banks

thebelongingcollective.blog.

Connect with Mohamed Abdallah

Substack.

Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu

Substack.

The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Ambition Foundation, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.

What happens to human beings when they stop feeling that they belong, matter, or have agency over their lives?

In this episode of The Kitchen Table, we are joined by Jackson Ogunyemi, better known as Action Jackson. Jackson is an international keynote speaker, educator, mentor, author, and the self-described UK ambassador for happiness. We explore his journey from falling into depression to reclaiming his joy, the neuroscience behind human connection, and why we must move from a culture of performing well-being to truly experiencing it.

What You’ll Discover

- The Performance of Happiness: Why modern culture rewards us for showcasing our lives rather than truly connecting, and how this leads to emotional dysregulation.

- Connect Before You Correct: How building genuine, long-term relationships with young people creates the safety needed for them to accept guidance and embrace failure.

- Reclaiming Your Joy: A look into Jackson's SMILE framework and why giving yourself permission to pause and replenish is essential for sustainable leadership.

Jackson’s powerful reminder is that unconditional love is not just a soft concept, but a neurological necessity for human beings to thrive. In a world that often feels increasingly divided and exhausting, this conversation offers a hopeful, practical vision for bringing joy, presence, and genuine connection back into our schools and homes.

Connect with Phil Banks

thebelongingcollective.blog.

Connect with Mohamed Abdallah

Substack.

Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu

Substack.

The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Ambition Foundation, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.