Children at Ernehale Flying High Academies in Arnold have come together to create their own ‘Equality and Diversity Charter’ to be displayed in all classrooms.
The charter, which brings together children’s ideas of what equality and diversity means to them, also sets the standard for the school community to treat each other with due respect and care.
Elaine Williams-Bilson is the Equality and Diversity Lead at Ernehale Flying High Academies and said she hopes the charter will inspire other schools and businesses to do the same. “The children who helped to create this charter are our Diversity Champions, representing the school population. They researched and explored ideas, watching a short film about equality and held discussions linked to the book ‘Racist Incidents and Bullying in Schools’, written by Robin Richardson and Bernice Miles. This text helped to consolidate the statements we were to use in the charter.”
Children’s work was reviewed by a Teachers Working Party Meeting where it was decided to create a diagram for displaying the statements in every classroom.
Now the school is aiming for a Carnegie Anti-Racist School Award and the children are working hard to meet the high standards, says Elaine, “I would say that the award gives a focal point, a place to begin, issues to look at. The award tackles tough questions and helps us to understand what it means by the idea that ‘It is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.’”
Elaine says the award looks at six competencies, giving children’s work a structure to look at every aspect of school life. “Our children are living in a global community, and it is important to ensure that BAME people play an appropriately prominent role in the curriculum.
“As teachers, this project helps us to promote equality and diversity in the classroom and to enhance the future of all our children, hopefully making the world a better place to live in. After all, this planet earth belongs to all of us, and all children should feel entitled to live here.”
Pupil Connie Hackett age 10, is a member of the Diversity Champions group and said, “I think it is important work because people should be spreading awareness about a lot of important issues that affect our society today, issues like racism, disablism, sexism and even being mean to people about their families. It is important to me that anyone who joins our school is happy and comfortable with who they are, and they should be able to be happy. I love being part of this group, we have become good friends. We see each other at meetings and in the playground.”
Pupil Kaia Cunningham age 8 agrees with Connie, “I love this group because we get the chance to help people understand the issues covered by our charter. I like to help people to understand that it is not ok to treat people unfairly or differently because of their family, race, gender, or religion. I hope that other schools do the same thing that we have, -that they look at our charter and like us sign an agreement to not be rude to people.”
Benjamin Morley age 7 said, “Our group wants everybody to be happy and comfortable at school. We need more diversity in schools. I hope that our charter spreads to other schools, then spreads all over the world so that the world becomes a better place!”
