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Diversity & National Issues

Sexual Abuse in Schools

Sexual abuse of peers on other peers is not a new phenomenon, though has recently been in the news as a result of the extent of this in some schools.   In our schools, we act proactively through our curriculum and pastoral care to ensure behaviours between peers are respectful.  Where we do have allegations, these are treated extremely sensitively and thoroughly investigated.  

Children with learning disabilities need Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) to support their understanding about relationships, respectful behaviours and how to manage puberty and natural, sexual inclinations.

Like all schools, we remain vigilant and aware of sexual abuse online and have tight procedures that limit access to online platforms where harm is often undertaken.  We support families where online abuse occurs and such children involved are supported extensively in school. 

If your child reports any allegations regarding sexual abuse (or otherwise) please contact the school immediately where our Safeguarding Lead and wider safeguarding team will support you and your child.

Reducing our Carbon Footprint

We know that half of all Hertfordshire County Council's carbon output comes from the schools.

Our pupils and staff are passionate about reducing our carbon footprint and are currently considering what targets we can and should be aiming for to reduce our carbon footprint to at least neutral.  

St Lukes' School is Band D - better than the average. (2020)

Collett School is Band G - worse than most schools (2020)

Works achieved that have reduced energy use:

  • The Collett School - 2016 New roof on the main building 
  • The Collett School - 2018 New double glazed windows
  • The Collett School - 2020 Replacement of two classrooms with energy efficient measures
  • The Collett School - 2020 LED lighting replacement of flourescent and tungsten bulbs complete
  • St Luke's School - 2014 Double glazed windows installed
  • St Luke's School - 2018 New boilers, new pipework across the school
  • The Collett School - new boilers and heating pipework completed November 2021
  • St Luke's School - LED lighting improvement completed 2023.

Works planned to reduce energy use:

  • St Luke's School - new roofing across the school (No date - bids submitted Oct 2020)

Black Lives Matter - Racism has No Place in our Federation of Schools

Black Lives Matter

Our belief that every young person, through access to a great education, should be able to realise their potential, regardless of where they live or their circumstances. We deplore the murder of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Manuel Ellis and countless others who have lost their lives due to unrelenting racial injustices and we recognise the uncomfortable truths that we all must face.

Since his murder on 25 May 2020, what has changed?

Our federation acknowledges that systemic racism is a problem that must be addressed everywhere. We have a duty to face up to the difficult conversations that ultimately result in the lifting of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) voices.  We know that in Britain, Black children are more likely to experience poverty, have poorer educational outcomes, be excluded from school, be unemployed, and come into contact with the criminal justice system. They are less likely to access the care they need if they are struggling with mental health problems, and Black children are more likely to act as carers for ill and disabled family members and to miss out on support.  We know that the Black community is underrepresented in teaching staff, even more so at a leadership level and we acknowledge that that impacts upon Black children’s experience of education. We acknowledge the position we are in today and we refuse to fail to learn.

It is crucial that we take action beyond statements.  We welcome challenge on our practices and will not be afraid of robust questioning.

Furthermore, we will:

  • Promote the comprehensive review of the curriculum coverage of Black history in our schools, to ensure that, at every key stage, Black voices are heard, Black stories are told and Black achievements and contributions to society are celebrated. 
  • Review the entire curriculum experience to ensure that there is good representation of Black voices and experiences: in and outside the formal taught curriculum, in each subject area, through trips and visits coverage and the profile of speakers.
  • For all internal recruitment and external recruitment we will minimise unconscious bias by presenting blind view CVs to hiring managers.
  • Monitor, report and take action upon any differences in successful hires, performance results, promotions and pay between our Black and non-Black colleagues.
  • Invite all colleagues that identify as BAME and BAME matters to form a BAME forum with a view to creating internal, education tools and lifting BAME voices to make robust recommendations that seek to further the cause of ending systemic racism both internally and with the work that we do.
  • We recognise that these issues affect the whole BAME community, and we extend these commitments to all affected.

August 2020

In late June, we met as a federation to discuss matters that could be better addressed within our schools.  As such, we have a committee of people who will work to ensure our systems, procedures, behaviours, resources and teaching content reflect the values we hold and wish to make explicit. 

October 2020

We proudly took part in Black History Month again this year.

Continued reflection of our teaching content and influence has ensured changes to what we teach and, how we ensure pupils have a broad understanding of the positive contributions black, Asian and minority ethnic people have made to the UK and world

January 2021

All welcome to attend the Zoom meeting regarding discussions on BLM and ideas development to benchmark our progress.

February 2021

  • We have taken part in HfL and HCC online forums.
  • We have reviewed our curriculum
  • We are asking everyone on our community to share and discuss any racist experiences that we need to ensure don't happen again and, to heal through discussion and action.
  • We promote anti-racism
  • Our curriculum includes a more balanced BAME representation in history, politics
  • We have reviewed and improved our interview process to ensure unconscious-bias does not have a place in recruitment

March 2021

Our survey across the federation has generated ideas and practical considerations for improvements to ensure we get to a racism free environment.  Work on our curriculum continues and training is being developed. 

November 2021

We continue to work to embed black culture, literature, art, history and music as meaningful, relevant and inspirational aspects of our curriculum.  We value the response from HfL on the anniversary of George Floyd's death May 2021

May 2022

We have audited our curricula and made changes to our curriculum to include further diversity in those influential people we study and the impact of people on our culture and society including mainstream and minorities.  Our libraries have greater diversity of black and brown protagonists in literature, whilst our non-fiction has more recent publications that capture a more diverse cannon of influencers.

February 2023

We have a teacher at St Luke's who is our Diversity Ambassador, promoting diversity and auditing our provision.

LGBTQI+

With our diversity information boards, we promote and celebrate difference in our schools.   Young people who identify as gay have contributed to the designs of the diversity boards and pupils with differences continue to share their thoughts, ideologies and information through assemblies, newsletters and curriculum planning.

Curriculum

Our curriculum celebrates the work and achievements of lesbian, gay and bisexual people through history as part of our diversification of what is taught and understood.  

Behaviour

We record separately incidents of a homophobic nature and analyse impact and further teaching/ programmes.   We have relatively few incidents of homophobic and racist language as all staff are engaged in preventing such language and following up all incidents as they take place.

Toilets

Our toilets have all been changed at Collett and most changed at St Luke's to be non-gender specific.  In turn, these have reduced incidents of bullying and made the toilets less intimidating places.

Uniform

Our uniform across the schools is non-gender specific and we have pupils opting to wear uniform that had previously been designated gender specific. 

We are very proud of our pupils feeling confident to celebrate their differences - who they are, want to be and how this helps change minds and opinions of others.

 

Enlighten Me!

In a rapidly evolving world, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.  Information and facts can be misinterpreted as we try to make sense of our place in society.  We develop our codes of conduct and values through the people and institutions we trust but sometimes don't always have a clear picture of others' views or different interpretations of 'facts'. 

In our schools, we want our pupils to have an understanding of the issues all of us face in our communities and wider society and to learn about differences.   Some of our pupils will directly face racism, homophobia and transphobia in their lifetimes so our federation-wide values of 'worth, respect, independence, wellbeing and resilience' are embedded in our support to demonstrate personal pride in our own differences and respect others.

The personal stories here are intended as a springboard for finding further texts, videos and information that enlighten you about others' experiences.  This page ultimately seeks to celebrate our difference.

Please contact us with information you feel should be included on this page.

Growing up Black in the UK

Jasmine During discusses her experiences growing up black in the UK and points us to further information sources: Jasmine During's Blog

Black Lives Matter

The BBC's website identifies the political BLM movement started in the USA and how this has evolved in the light of racism and prejudice.  BBC What is BLM and what are the aims? 

Transgender

An informative set of discussions by Jamie, a Transgender man, who explains his position in society and relating his journey and it's context within the gender critical debates and transphobia: Transgender discussions by Jamie, a Transgender man

Growing up Gay in the UK

Olly Alexander discusses his experiences of growing up gay and the impact on his mental health and wellbeing: Olly Alexander: Growing Up Gay in a Straight World

Growing up Asian in the UK

A poem written and read by Rosia Li, a British born Chinese young woman: I am British

When I Grow Up I Want to Be...

Fewer than 6% of people with learning disabilities have a job.  Only 5.8% of people with learning disabilities are in some form of paid employment. This has fallen from 6.6% in 2011: Foundation for People With Learning Disabilities

 

Growing Up with Islamaphobia

What it’s like to grow up in the UK as a Muslim woman: ‘People would shout terrorist at us on school trips’  ‘I learned from a young age that when people shout “terrorist” in public, no one around will defend you. Suddenly everyone is deaf.’