Diversity & Inclusion Case Study

We continue to progress the school’s commitment to inclusion, equality and real change.

So far this term, all staff have undertaken unconscious bias training and, building on the GDST Undivided Charter for Action, we have started to work with Flair to help us monitor our progress.

This month, as part of our ongoing curriculum reviews, our Head of Contemporary Music shares how the Music department addresses inclusion and diversity through everyday teaching and learning.

“In the Music Department, we study a huge range of music in and out of the curriculum that has been written by people from across the globe: black or white, rich or poor, male or female. From Henry Purcell’s birth in The Devil’s Acre slum in London to Robert Johnson’s resurrection as a blues legend in the Mississippi Delta; from Hildegard von Bingen’s monastic life in the Rhineland over 900 years ago, to Nina Kraviz’s transformation from Siberian dentist to techno superstar… music transcends the social, cultural, and political issues of its contextual surroundings.

In our Music classes at South Hampstead, we pay particular attention to the language we use when learning about the historical context of the music we study. For example, if we are studying the blues, we explore the distinction between the musical origins of what we hear [spirituals, work songs] and the performers that develop it into popular musical styles over 100 years later.  We discuss music’s roots in ways that are reflective and honest.  One of the things I adore about South Hampstead is that these discussions are so open – pupils engage with curiosity and authenticity, and their understanding of how damaging language can be is what makes our school such a lovely place.

The London-based saxophonist Nate Holder, in his intentionally provocative poem If I Were A Racist reflects on his own music education – his words remind us of the strides that have been made in how we teach music, but also the humility and understanding required to continue to redress the imbalances.”

Mr Beecroft, Head of Contemporary Music, is a member of our diversity and inclusion steering group, composed of staff, students and alumnae.