Diverse Voices, one community
By Mr Ian McClary, DEI Lead
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, or DEI for short, gets quite a bad press these days. Conflated and confused with culture wars, 'anti-woke' rhetoric and wider political narratives, what we are really talking about is nothing more than finding out what makes other people tick and seeking to promote a sense of belonging which is more than just 'fitting in'.
Here at Sherborne Girls our approach is one of listening, clarifying and respect. Are there voices in our community that are heard less often or don't get the opportunity to be heard? Which perspectives are absent, given that we are a single-sex boarding school in rural Dorset? Do all the members of our community feel that they belong here? If not, why not, and what can we do to remedy that?
At SG we’ve never shied away from asking ourselves honest questions about the kind of community we are and want to be. While we have a great deal to celebrate and be proud of in terms of DEI, we also need to be alert to any language or behaviour which, often unintentionally, causes others to feel marginalised or excluded. It's not about political correctness or limiting freedom of speech, it's about being curious, courageous, compassionate, adaptable and spiritual.
One of the important ways in which we engage with issues of inclusion and promote belonging is through Diverse Voices. This joint-schools, pupil-led group meets monthly and is open to all pupils. Its efforts focus on listening for quieter, less confident voices, and on bringing clarity to issues which are less well understood. Diverse Voices conducts research projects, which help to inform and raise awareness amongst pupils, staff and governors, to ensure that our level of cultural competence grows further and does not stagnate.
Recent projects include: the experience of pupils from SE Asia and pupils of African origin; busting myths about the Gypsy/Roma/Traveller community in the UK; and catering for neurodiversity in the classroom. Diverse Voices has been instrumental in developing the School's DEI strategy, which seeks to recognise diversity in its fullest sense, to remove any barriers to achievement and to nurture a community in which individuals feel heard and valued for who they are - each a unique blend of many characteristics.
Experiences and perspectives vary and differ, of course, and so it's important for us to learn how to disagree agreeably, especially amongst the echo chambers of social media. The pupils also need to feel safe asking questions about controversial topics, questions which can be better framed when one is aware of the sensitivities and context surrounding them. After all, an uninformed young person is a vulnerable young person.
Together with my colleague, Andrew Griffin-Raphael, who leads on DEI at Sherborne Boys, we look forward to continuing to work with our pupils, so that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are an everyday part of how we operate in community to promote genuine belonging.
Where Next?
