Latin Americans are one of the fastest-growing yet least visible migrant groups in the UK. There are over 450,000 Latin Americans nationwide, with over half living in London. Despite this, they remain unrecognised as a distinct ethnic category in national statistics, and there is a lack of policy and academic research exploring the experience of young Latin Americans in education.

This report summarises research which was developed in partnership with IRMO for a Master’s dissertation in Social Justice and Education at UCL. It aims to centre the voices of young Latin Americans, documenting the barriers encountered in entering and navigating the English education system, and the crucial role played by community organisations in supporting them.

The findings are based on a focus group with seven young Latin Americans aged 12 to 18, as well as interviews with IRMO staff who support migrant families with education issues. Their accounts shed light on the structural inequalities embedded in the education system and how these are felt in the everyday lives of young people.

"It was very hard, because no schools had space and it was very complicated, and I had to wait for almost seven months to be able to start."