How well does your school acknowledge and celebrate diversity?

Look at the 8 descriptors for excellence.

“Walk the Walk” and note down what you see and don’t seearound your school.

Some areas to consider around the school

  • Reception
  • Interview rooms
  • Hall
  • Library
  • Form rooms (pastoral areas. eg form notice board)
  • The area(s) around Year Heads’ offices
  • Any social areas for pupils
  • Inclusion Room, Pupil Support Area or similar
  • Corridors in subject departments
  • Staffroom

Ways to evaluate what you see in each area

  • a score out of 5
  • a rating (Exemplary – Good – Some Evidence – Priority for improvement)
  • Red – Amber- Green rating

Who might “walk the walk” with you?

  • your EMA link consultant
  • a small group of representative pupils
  • a governor
  • a small group of teaching and non-teaching staff

Acknowledging and celebrating diversity: 8 measures of excellence.

1.This school welcomes and includes people from all cultures and ethnic groups / 2.This school values and showcases the richness and variety of the world’s racial, ethnic, cultural and religious groups
This is about how your school presents itself to visitors, pupils and staff as a place that is happy about them being here. / This is about your school appreciating that we have so much variety and helping others to do the same
  • welcome posters in different languages
  • signs in different languages
  • visitors are made aware of the school’s Race Equality policy
  • reference copies of books/guides relating to diversity, faith, cultural considerations etc
  • parents/carers greeted and treated as appropriate to different racial, ethnic or cultural customs. eg eye contact, shaking hands, asking questions of a teacher
/
  • posters/photographs showing different countries, cultures, religions, nationalities
  • artwork/artefacts from different countries
  • a variety of books and texts (factual-fictional-dual language) reflecting the wider multi-ethnic world

3.This school aims to give pupils the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes which are needed for life in Britain’s multi-ethnic society / 4.This school promotes positive perceptions of different traditions, lifestyles, customs, beliefs and values.
This is about pupils knowing information, having experiences, learning appropriate behaviours and ways of working together with all sorts of people / This is about seeing these differences as a good thing
  • a variety of books and texts (factual-fictional-dual language) reflecting the wider multi-ethnic world

5.This school develops pupils’ understanding of how their own culture has been influenced by interactionwith, and contributions from other cultures, and vice versa / 6.This school recognises and challenges racism, racial discrimination and stereotyping
This is about pupils understanding that all cultures give to and take from each other and have many things in common / This is about the school and its staff and pupils knowing that these things are wrong, and why, and saying no to them
  • Info displays: eg linguistic influences from/to English, inventions, knowledge, culinary influences etc
/
  • Posters relating to the law on Race Equality, Human Rights etc
  • Posters challenging stereotypical/racist thinking and actions

7. This school prepares its pupils to be global citizens in an increasingly interdependent world. / 8.As part of valuing diversity this school regularlyupdates its displays and other messages which the school transmits about being an inclusive community
This is about pupils being part of a world out there and appreciating their place in it / This is about practising true community cohesion whilst avoiding “wallpaper” displays, policy without practice, tokenism, etc
  • a variety of books and texts (factual-fictional-dual language) reflecting the wider multi-ethnic world
  • links with schools abroad
/
  • Response to local, national and international news items relating to diversity and inclusion
  • Response to changes in school intake and ethnic composition