Anti-Racist Statement

Primary Advantage Governors have adopted the anti racist statement drafted by Hackney Headteachers at their conference held on 18th March 2022.
As Hackney Headteachers, we jointly affirm our full commitment and continued action to the best possible safeguarding of every child in our care, ensuring a safeguarding first approach always applies. We know that we have already been doing work to eliminate racism in our schools, but recognise that there is much work to be done. We recognise that Black and Global Majority children face racism in Hackney and beyond: we are committed to and will act on taking forward anti-racist practice.
In Hackney we are ambitious, caring and inclusive in working for every child. As educationalists we will work jointly, with our children, their families, our staff and with other professionals, particularly with our Black and Global Majority stakeholders, in building on the strong work already in our schools, towards being a beacon of excellence in inclusion and anti-racism.
We are committed to revisiting staff training and guidance to ensure that all staff:
– feel confident that their duty to safeguard the children in our care comes above any other need,
– understand, and are able to counteract, any assumptions or actions that may lead to children being treated unfairly or unjustly.
– are able to act to protect children in crisis as if they were our own, seeking senior leader support if needed.
We are committed to supporting and challenging each other to ensure this happens.

At St John & St James’ we are committed to creating an equitable environment, where all cultures and identities are recognised and feel empowered to explore and express what matters to them. Through an anti-racist approach, we work with our staff, parents and children to ensure our provision responds to the diverse needs of our learners and their communities. Our aim is to support the children in understanding their own rights and the rights of others; show tolerance and celebrate diversity in society and understand the consequences of racism and have the ability to challenge it.

Staff Professional Development

We are dedicated to improving the racial literacy of our staff through discussion and recognition of racial inequalities. In turn, our staff have the awareness and confidence to explore race within the classroom; challenge racial inequalities, assumptions and racism.

Ongoing anti-racist professional development we offer our staff are:

Unconscious Bias Training
Half Termly Racial Literacy Meetings
Anti-Racist Training Workshops
Creating Conditions for Belonging Training
Diversifying literature in EYFS
All staff provided with copies of “Black and British,” by David Olusoga to enhance their understanding of Black British History

Parental Involvement

We seek to actively engage our parents and carers in our anti-racist approach, through listening and valuing their insight into how our school can promote racial-literacy and anti-racism. We also provide support to our parents to ensure the work we are doing in the classroom is continued at home, so our children are confident advocates of tolerance, empathy and racial-equality.

We involve our parents and carers in the following ways:

Talking to Parents about Race and Racism
Parent Steering Group
Online safety meetings with parents on how to keep children safe online
Parent coffee mornings and workshops

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum is based around the themes of identity, belonging, diversity and social justice helping to prepare our children for their future, by creating a strong set of values, which will enable them to reflect and make positive choices with confidence and strength in the world in which they live.

What we offer our children:

Classroom practice that promotes equality; celebrates diversity and values all voices.
Reading corners with diverse texts to reflect our children’s realities, as well as teach them about experiences and perspectives which differ from their own.
A diverse reading curriculum with relevant texts that challenge stereotypes and social inequality.
An Oracy curriculum that ensures children are debating topical issues, whilst developing their spoken communication and ability to articulate themselves – a crucial skill to ensure all children, regardless of their background, have the best opportunities later in life.
A humanities curriculum which is relevant and representative of our school community.
A Black History Month Curriculum which builds on children’s understanding of Africa and The Caribbean’s history and how it has shaped both locations, as well as Britain today.
A Diverse Britain curriculum taught at three points throughout the year showcasing Black brilliance through modules on role models, the impact of immigration on London and the importance of activism for being generators of change in your community.
Learning about inspirational scientists, artists and leaders.
A PSHE curriculum that celebrates differences and teaches children about healthy relationships.
Restorative justice practices and the importance of forgiveness.