Diversity and Inclusion

 

At Christ’s School our underpinning aim is to promote inclusion and equality, and we strive to ensure every student, every staff member, every member of the community and every stakeholder is recognised and respected for who they are. We are proud to be part of the diverse and multicultural society that makes London so special.

We recognise the pain and anger that recent global events have caused, and the long and shaming history of racism going back hundreds of years. We want you to know that we are already taking the steps required to become, as an organisation, actively anti-racist and to stand stronger and louder as a community to combat racial inequality and ensure our school is a safe space, a place where everyone is valued, everyone shares equal access to support, and a place where educational and vital conversations are encouraged. This is a journey with many steps and processes, and we begin today by setting out the first wave of change we are introducing to actively combat racism.

Our commitment:

1. We have formed a Diversity and Inclusion Group to focus on these issues, bring in positive reform, and hold the school community accountable

2. We will form a student group to embrace our diverse and inclusive student body, celebrating culture and identity 

3. We will support all staff and stakeholders to become racially literate and embed this racial literacy, ensuring it shapes the cultural and institutional framework of the school, and provide resources and discussion space to facilitate this

4. We are reviewing our pastoral provision to ensure all staff are equipped and confident in dealing with racist incidents among our students, this will involve full staff training

5. We are engaging with external training providers to support our understanding of the experience of racism among our staff, students and community, and support us in making change

6. We will conduct a curriculum review to ensure our curriculum is fully representative of the multicultural and diverse society we live in

7. We have a regular safe space for frank and open discussion among our staff, vital for sharing experiences and supporting one another as a community

8. All staff will be encouraged to plot their professional development through responsible line management and leadership, and we will work towards proportional representation at all levels

9. A campaign to ‘Amplify Black and Brown Voices’ will launch in September using our staff expertise to highlight practitioners in all fields taught in school that have made a positive contribution to their subject

10. Anti-racism will be a standing item in meeting agendas; staff with specific roles focused on building inclusion will be properly supported and resourced; a specific anti-racism policy will be introduced, and we will review our existing policies to ensure they are racially inclusive

 

Equality and social justice are central to our objectives and values of Love, Justice and Peace as an organisation. It’s clear that although we are an inclusive school for staff and students, we need to do more. 

 

Words are not enough; actions will  be taken in the weeks, months and years ahead, and we will make regular updates to all stakeholders regarding the progress we are making.