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Dear colleagues
Welcome to another edition of ‘Called, Connected, Committed’ and may I start by again thanking you for the remarkable job you are doing in serving your school communities at this time and through this season. It is a season which continues to challenge us all in so many ways, and it feels like as we move forward through the Autumn, those challenges may continue to grow. We particularly think of those leaders in areas that are subject to more complex restrictions, whilst recognising that this national issue is clearly worsening across the whole country. Thank you for all you are doing to provide an experience for young people and families that is well beyond the usual boundaries of what a school does – in so many senses standing right at the heart of community it is seeking to serve.
In this week’s edition, we turn again to one of the 24 leadership practices from our document – Seeking Reconciliation. All the other resources from previous weeks (and therefore nearly all of the 24!) are available at www.cefel.org.uk/ccc to download and share. This theme is crucial to our leadership, and is an extremely helpful lens through which to see our continued emphasis on improving our approaches together to diversity and inclusion. There is such a journey to take in this area of course, but we are pleased to be making it together. Our national diversity network for school leaders has now begun its work meeting together to re-shape practice, involving leaders from many Dioceses, schools and MATs.
One of these leaders is the inspirational Aleishia Lewis from Southend in the Diocese of Chelmsford. As part of our growing network, Emily sat down with Aleishia to talk about reconciliation and had an amazing conversation that is well worth pausing to listen to if you’re serious about engaging with this issue. It’s challenging, thought provoking and highly energising as it gives some really practical things you can do in your schools to shift the culture. This is about making a safe space for difficult conversations to happen – without which, much of our well intentioned efforts can so easily become very tokenistic. This longer term vision for anti-racism needs to be a constant refrain in our thinking as leaders if we are to see real change.
As part of this network, we have also linked up with the school leaders across USA with whom we all met last week. It was inspirational to hear their vision, and through developing this shared international dialogue we pray that we are enriched, challenged and motivated to action that will last.
All encouragement for this week and all that it holds, and as half term comes, may you find some rest and replenishment for what lies ahead.
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