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Dear colleagues
As we continue to explore the leadership practices from ‘Called, Connected, Committed’, we are really encouraged to hear such positive feedback about the resources, and the ability to go back into each week’s offering at www.cefel.org.uk/ccc - there are now 22 issues you can go back into – so plenty of great resources to support you in your leadership this term – to help plan that SLT meeting later in the week or next week’s governors’ meeting! The idea is simply to provide resources and thinking that give you space (and save you time preparing) to equip and resource yourself and your teams.
In the Autumn Term, we are beginning a new focus series today looking at ‘Celebrating Diversity’. This will be the focus of 4 of the mailouts this term, and we’ll be learning from lots of different voices as we seek to move forward together in this space. This is part of the Foundation’s wider diversity plan, which has launched a range of exciting and transformative opportunities this term, including focus on the recruitment to and delivery of our programmes and networks, curriculum development, an international network opportunity with leaders from USA, and many more. We are thrilled to welcome Allana Gay, co-founder of BAMEEd Network – www.bameednetwork.com - to work with us this year on various aspects of this, and I was delighted to sit down with Allana for this week’s podcast to talk about the diversity and inclusion – well worth 20 minutes of your week to get thinking in this area.
As we say in the CCC document itself – “An authentic Christian vision for living well together is one that is scandalously inclusive: where all are welcomed, and where everyone gets to play a part. Leaders should not seek diversity and inclusion just because it is the correct thing to do, we should pursue it and chase it down because it is inherently better. Diverse teams do not simply tick boxes or fulfil targets. We think, lead, teach and learn better because of our diversity.”
We borrow the language of ‘scandalously inclusive’ with gratitude from the Diocese of Leicester and yet we know that despite the boundary-breaking, culture-shifting ministry of Jesus in the New Testament, the church has rarely led the way in this crucial area. We hope that as we turn and hold our focus on this during the Autumn Term, that the changes we need to see can begin to develop and grow in our own teams, mindsets, recruitment, admissions, partnerships and vision. There are no simple answers, and we need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable conversations required to begin to make the shift. But yet as we make this choice, we are so enriched by welcoming everyone to the table.
It’s clear that we have a long journey ahead, and one that needs humility and contrition to underpin enthusiasm and vision.
But it’s a journey we must commit to taking together.
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Andy Wolfe - Deputy Chief Education Officer (Leadership Development)
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This week Allana Gay, co-founder of BAME Ed and North London Headteacher, reads Celebrating Diversity from Called, Connected, Committed, then discusses the reflection in conversation with Andy Wolfe.
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Celebrating Diversity Reflection (Extract)
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Leaders in education cherish diversity and inclusion, recognising that their communities are inherently better and richer in their differences. They take every opportunity to celebrate learning together, and hold their doors open to people from all backgrounds and traditions. Leaders unlock opportunities for their children to flourish in a wide variety of disciplines, not simply those that are measured. They patiently nurture development and growth, knowing that character stands at the heart of educational achievement.
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An authentic Christian vision for living well together is one that is scandalously inclusive: where all are welcomed, and where everyone gets to play a part. Leaders should not seek diversity and inclusion just because it is the correct thing to do, we should pursue it and chase it down because it is inherently better. Diverse teams do not simply tick boxes or fulfil targets. We think, lead, teach and learn better because of our diversity.
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Suggested resources to reflect on Celebrating Diversity where you are
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'Leaders in education cherish diversity and inclusion'
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'Diverse teams do not simply tick boxes or fulfil targets. We think, lead, teach and learn better because of our diversity.'
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We know that black and minority ethnic people are hugely under-represented on governing boards. Listen to three black school governors discuss their roles and the challenges of improving diversity within their school communities.
'The equality and diversity we have as a board and the outlook we have is fantastic and that's testament to the fact I'm still there three years later. Because you can do ticking the box with getting diverse governors and staff etc but it's more about the retention.'
This fascinating conversation begins 28 minutes in and challenges us to think seriously about how we recruit and retain governors and staff, but more than that - how we ensure our school communities are truly inclusive and welcoming to all.
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'An authentic Christian vision for living well together is scandalously inclusive...'
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Janet Stovall, in this TED talk, challenges us to get serious about diversity and inclusion in the workplace with examples from her own work. Although her context is American, the call to get serious about addressing racial injustice applies to us all.
Janet states: 'Inclusion is about impact. Companies can mandate diversity, but they have to cultivate inclusion.' She challenges her audience to take real action with real accountability to make this happen.
What are we doing in our own schools and organisations to cultivate spaces where people of all colours and races feel safe, valued, respected and able to be fully authentic?
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'Leaders recognise that the chequered history of faith-based inclusion usually requires particular attention to ethos, pedagogy, curriculum...'
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We are now starting to see organisations drawing together suggested resources and reading for addressing racial inequality and injustice in a school context.
Here's one such resource, with an action plan for change, reading lists for all stakeholders and ways to develop your conversations with colleagues. It has been developed by Citizens UK, and incorporates readings lists and material from the Chartered College of Teaching.
Citizens UK resource
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'The dignity and integrity of each must be respected... helping to redefine community, replace division, foster reconciliation, and shape ways of living better together.'
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The introduction to Paulo Friere's seminal work Pedagogy of the Oppressed says:
'There is no such thing as a neutral educational process'.
Ibram X. Kendi makes the same point - that we cannot be neutral in how we teach our children about racism - in his children's book Anti-racist Baby. Watch the book being read or listen to Ibram in conversation with Brene Brown here.
What messages are the children in our schools learning about racial equality, diversity and inclusion - right from the start?
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'The horizon within which a school lives and thinks can combine the local and the global, with concern for 'every nation, tribe, people and language' (Revelation 7:9-10)'
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Prayers for School Leaders
A Prayer of Acknowledgement and Lament
Lord, as we become aware of the intensity of the racial divide, our hearts are broken. Help us not to rush from this place of hurting to triumphalism or repair but rather lament as you call us to do.
May our lament be a form of worship, a joining of our hearts with yours, as we grieve the lack of your kingdom justice here on earth.
Strengthen us for this path, as without you, the overwhelming depth of the problems that must be addressed and acknowledged would be devastating.
We know that you mourn with us and comfort us as we mourn with one another.
In Christ's holy name,
Amen
(Elizabeth Behrens, from Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison)
Father of all,
We delight in the glorious diversity of your creation,
We wonder at the exquisite range of beautiful people you have made.
Every tongue, tribe, nation and people.
We confess we have not done as much as we should
To welcome and include
To challenge injustice
To recognise people's pain and hurt
To do better.
Help us, we pray, to see as you see,
To chase down true diversity with our whole hearts,
And to love, honour, dignify and lift up our neighbours as ourselves.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
Amen
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'There should be no division in the body...'
'Make us One' by Jesus Culture is a prayer which acknowledges how we have brought about division and harm against our fellow humans, and asks that God would help us become more unified.
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