The diverse nature of UK society, the multiple identities people hold, the contribution of migration to the UK, and the meaning of community cohesion and mutual understanding.

What this dot point is asking

AQA wants you to explain that the UK is a diverse, multicultural society, that people hold several identities at once, that migration has shaped the country, and that community cohesion is needed so different groups can live together well. This sits in the Life in modern Britain unit (assessed in Paper 2), and questions range from short "Describe" items to extended "Evaluate" or "Discuss" responses, often using a source. You should be able to define the key terms precisely, give concrete examples (such as the Windrush generation), and link diversity to the shared values that hold a cohesive society together.

A diverse and multicultural society

The UK is home to people of many ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. This diversity is the result of its history, including its island geography, its empire, and waves of migration over many centuries.

Diversity in the UK has several dimensions: ethnicity, religion (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and many others, alongside those of no religion), language, age, disability, gender and sexuality. The largest cities, especially London, are among the most diverse places in the world, while diversity is more uneven across regions. Recognising this range matters because the Life in modern Britain unit asks how such a varied society can hold together, which leads directly into the ideas of shared values and community cohesion.

Multiple identities

People do not have a single identity. The same person might identify as British, Welsh, Muslim, a daughter, a student and a football fan all at once.

The idea of multiple identities is important because it challenges the assumption that people must choose one belonging over another. A person can be strongly Scottish and strongly British; a British Muslim can hold their faith and their nationality together without conflict. Identities are also not fixed: they can change over a lifetime and shift depending on context (you might feel most "your town" at a local match and most "British" at a national event). For AQA, understanding multiple identities supports the argument that a diverse society can still share a common civic identity built on agreed values.

The contribution of migration

Migration has shaped the UK for centuries, from the Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Normans to Huguenots, Jewish refugees and Commonwealth citizens. After the Second World War, people from Commonwealth countries, such as those who arrived from the Caribbean on the Empire Windrush in 1948, helped rebuild the country and staffed services such as the NHS.

Migrants contribute to the economy by working and paying taxes, fill skills shortages (in health, social care, construction and technology), and enrich British culture through food, music, language and the arts. Migration also brings challenges, such as short-term pressure on housing, schools and health services in areas of rapid arrival, which is why community cohesion matters. A balanced AQA answer recognises both the clear long-term benefits and the local pressures, rather than treating migration as wholly positive or wholly negative.

Community cohesion

Cohesion is built through shared institutions such as schools, contact between communities, equal opportunities, and the values of mutual respect and tolerance. Where cohesion breaks down, mistrust, segregation and tension can grow. Local councils, schools and community organisations promote cohesion through integration projects, shared events and anti-discrimination work. The link AQA wants you to draw is that diversity is a fact, while cohesion is a goal: a diverse society does not automatically get on, so shared values and active effort are what allow many identities to coexist peacefully.