Black History Month

Black History Month has been embraced by the whole school community, with a range of events spearheaded by our Diversity Steering Group.

Staff and pupils have engaged with a wealth of activities to acknowledge the importance of black history. Recommended resources and culture lists were disseminated to help inform and inspire – from non-fiction and podcasts, to poetry and TED talks – compiled by Mr Keiler, a member of the school’s Diversity Steering Group.

Sixth Formers delivered a powerful assembly for the whole school, live streamed from the Waterlow Hall, shining a light on trailblazing women of colour from a variety of fields – from science and the arts, to politics and entertainment. Deputy Head Girl Liana, also a member of the Diversity Steering Committee, reminded pupils of the importance of continuing these vital discussions beyond the month of October: “Celebrating diversity doesn’t end on 1st November; it’s important that it is embedded and that we all keep learning, keep educating and keep challenging.”   

Mrs Bingham addressed the whole school with an assembly that focused on the tragic death of Stephen Lawrence in 1993; at the age of just 18, Stephen was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack. At the suggestion of a pupil, we held a non-uniform day on the last day of half term, with all funds going to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, who champion equality and work with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Sixth Formers organised an impassioned debate during their own assembly, with powerfully articulated views on whether Black History Month should be abolished and incorporated into the wider curriculum, and our Sixth Form radio team, Juice Radio, hosted a special episode.

This month and beyond, teaching across the curriculum continues to focus on issues of black identity and history, to ensure that the roots of prejudice are understood, and that diverse voices are heard. This term, STEM students have been championing the achievements of black Scientists and exploring their work – there are posters and QR codes on display to encourage them to find out more. Sixth Form Historians, who are studying British Imperialism, recently presented their coursework on the Civil Rights Movement to Year 10 pupils, whilst younger pupils are learning about the history of Greater Zimbabwe, Black Tudors, and the history of slavery, including the contribution of black abolitionists. In English lessons, pupils in Years 7 to 9 are delivering presentations on black inventors and their important yet overlooked contribution to the world; girls have also given short talks on a selection of poems from the English department’s inaugural BAME Poetry Anthology, while the Drama department hosted a screening of last term’s trailblazing school production of Emilia. 

In Art lessons, pupils are exploring the problems of Euro-centricity and the importance of diversity; Classicists are focusing on Kimathi Donkor’s Rescue of Andromeda; and Philosophy & Religion students are learning about black philosophers. A Level Economists are being introduced to Dambisa Moyo’s Dead Aid, while Psychology students are investigating the findings of ‘the doll experiments’ – ground-breaking studies about children’s attitudes to race, undertaken in the 1940s by Mamie and Kenneth Clark, a husband-and-wife team of African-American psychologists.

English Teacher, Mr Keiler, commented: “Our focus on Black History Month helps pupils develop their understanding of key issues and reflect upon what else the school community can do to help promote diversity.  It has been wonderful to see girls across the whole school speak so intelligently about racial prejudice and champion a culture where mutual respect can flourish.”