EDI in Education and Edgbaston High School: Leading with Purpose
At Edgbaston High School, we believe that equality, diversity and inclusion should exist in everything we do, rather than just a policy.
At Edgbaston High School, we believe that equality, diversity and inclusion should exist in everything we do, rather than just a policy.
EHS has been bold in creating an environment where staff and pupils feel valued, empowered and respected. We envision a celebration of the diversity and richness of our community, where we can foster a sense of belonging and equality in school and any of our educational processes.
Starting the conversation and the journey towards true EDI in education
In January 2022, EHS implemented the FLAIR survey, a methodical science-supported tool created to initiate conversations around race and ethnicity. The FLAIR survey gave the school a clearer picture of staff and pupil experiences and highlighted areas for focus and growth for diversity, equality and inclusion. Recommendations from the results included revisiting school policies, with a view to ensuring anti-racism measures were embedded in everything we do in the school. EHS also created a Diversity Resource Hub to provide additional DEI support for staff.
The strategic leadership and expert guidance required to embed DEI in education
EHS is proud of its open-minded approach to improving the culture of the school, and recognised that external expertise was required to cement new initiatives on diversity, equality and inclusion within the school. The school appointed Audrey Pantelis as a consultant to support delivering EDI in an educational institution. Audrey’s guidance provided an exceptional foundation to build EDI into school processes, including training on language, microaggressions and how to develop the curriculum to provide a stronger support for EDI rather than simply an add-on. Her audits and workshops were attended by staff, the governors and the students, delivering universal coverage for the school.
Empowering voices and celebrating cultures
Edgbaston High School, thanks to Audrey’s guidance, created a series of initiatives designed to celebrate EDI within the school and the community. This included the Collective Cultures Day, an annual event that celebrates global heritage in lessons, through performances and during assemblies. The school suspends the regular timetable so the event can be the heart of all activities without the distraction of the usual curriculum. Edgbaston High School invited key guest speakers such as Jamila Gavin and Jassa Ahluwalia, while students and staff organised cultural dances, poetry and fashion shows to demonstrate their cultural influences and reflect EHS’s inclusive environment. The Collective Cultures Days are cornerstones of our EDI integration, and they provide students with the opportunity to challenge stereotypes and celebrate their heritage.
Visit us on an open dayMeasuring the impact of implementing EDI in education and driving change
EHS’s examination of DEI practices within the school and community isn’t just a one-time thing. Developing a culture of inclusivity in education must be an evolution that can be tracked over time. To do this, the school is regularly conducting FLAIR surveys and has implemented a pupil focus group which provides EHS with the ability to identify areas for improvement. The results have been both encouraging and highlighted further challenges; for instance, awareness and confidence in challenging inappropriate behaviour have increased, but there is also an ongoing challenge with racial awareness and a need for greater diversity among the staff. Insights such as these provide a roadmap for the school’s future progress, such as targeted training for years 10 and 12, a continued focus on developing the curriculum and improving staff confidence in challenging prejudicial views.
Leading EDI in education beyond the classroom
EDI in education is everyone’s responsibility, EHS leads the way by including all stakeholders in initiatives designed to improve inclusivity, diversity and equality in the school. The EDI parents forum, for example, the formation of a committee for EDI and training for support staff, such as the catering team shows that the whole school is improving EDI. Through engagement with parents, the empowerment of students and constant incremental training for staff, Edgbaston High School is creating a culture where responsibility for inclusivity is shared.
Recognition of EDI success and Future Goals
We’re proud to see that our efforts to improve EDI have been recognised. The school was highly commended for the Talk Education Award in 2024, and we have recently been nominated for the Independent Schools Award for DEIG. We continue to work towards improving EDI in the classroom and beyond, with our approach being one of constant evolution, of policies, attitudes, processes and the curriculum, ensuring that inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do. We have a clear vision at Edgbaston High School: we want to create a community where diversity is celebrated, equality is a right, not an option, and every individual feels like they belong.
Book an Open Day VisitEDI in Education: Frequently Asked Questions
EDI stands for equality, diversity and inclusion. In schools, this means we must take responsibility for creating an environment where every student feels like they belong, they can be proud and celebrate their heritage regardless of their background, identity or circumstances. We celebrate our pupils and what makes them unique, fearlessly female individuals.
Find out more about the benefits of a girls' education here
We aim to nurture our pupils to become fearlessly female, and this means EDI is at the core of our school identity; a pupil who is not celebrated for their heritage, culture and diversity cannot become fearless. Over our 150 years, our traditions have always encouraged young women to be confident, bold and unapologetically themselves, so our push to a better culture of EDI makes our school identity stronger.
Find out more about being fearlessly female here
Pastoral care is of utmost importance to the principles Edgbaston High School holds dear. This must, naturally, extend to any challenges pupils face to their backgrounds, culture or their experience within the school. As a core tenet of our educational philosophy, our pastoral care processes ensure pupils have multiple channels to raise issues, whether that’s privately, face-to-face, or anonymously. Pupil’s concerns will always be treated seriously, sensitively and in complete confidence. An inclusive school is one where the students know their voices matter and they can be heard.