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Â鶹Æƽâ°æ

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As a global community of more than 1,500 pupils and staff, the fundamental British values of democracy, tolerance and respect, and individual liberty are hugely important to us all.

At Â鶹Æƽâ°æ, we welcome pupils of all backgrounds, nationalities, religions, genders and sexualities and celebrate the difference and diversity that this brings to our community.  We warmly invite pupils to come forward to inform us about their respective identities, recognising that ‘being known’ is integral to their wellbeing.  As a school, we will not tolerate racism, sexism or homophobia in any form, and work with our pupils to foster a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.   

In order to ensure that our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is upheld, the following staff members work with our EDI College Prefects, and teams within the boarding houses, to promote tolerance and kindness in all we do: Mrs Campbell (Assistant Head EDI); Miss McFarlane (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator) and Mrs Moses. 

This team also oversees our pupil-led EDI societies which provide pupils with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, to learn about different identities and perspectives, and, ultimately, to be allies for one another.   They include:

  • International Society 
  • African Caribbean Society 
  • Islamic Society 
  • Pride Alliance 
  • Gender Coalition 
  • Focus Group

Recognising the importance of pupil voice, Autumn 2023 will see the launch of our EDI magazine ‘Intersect’ which will contain content from pupils who attend each  of the aforementioned  societies.

Across the academic year, this team strives to run numerous events to celebrate cultural and religious events and festivals, including but not limited to:  Diwali, Chinese New Year, Holi, and Ramadan and Eid.  Each year, we also seek to celebrate Black History Month, Men’s Mental Health Month, LGBT+ Month, and Women’s History Month, marking these through our assembly and tutorial programmes, through the curriculum and also by running in-house events and trips.

Â鶹Æƽâ°æ is a member of the Schools Inclusion Alliance which is open to schools who are pledging to take tangible steps to embed inclusion into their school culture. Amongst our recent achievements is the establishment of a Multi-Faith Prayer Room, which in addition to our beautiful chapel, provides a space for staff and pupils to use for silent prayer and contemplation. Additionally, we have adopted the Halo Code, making it clear that our School champions the right of staff and students to embrace Afro-hairstyles. Accordingly, our uniform policy now acknowledges that we welcome Afro-textured hair worn in all styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, and fades. Ultimately, we are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and cultural style have no bearing on anyone’s ability to succeed.