Surrey Schools Make Significant Strides in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)
School leaders across Surrey are celebrating progress in establishing comprehensive Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) strategies within their schools. This achievement comes after a year of participation in the Leading DEIB in Schools programme, an initiative designed by Diverse Educators to empower educational leaders in this critical area.
The programme provided participants with essential knowledge and tools to create more inclusive school environments, diversify the curriculum, and address key DEIB-related policies and legislation. Through this transformative learning experience, leaders have successfully begun shifting their schools’ cultures towards inclusivity, ensuring that students, staff, and communities feel valued and represented.
In a recent celebration event, leaders shared their DEIB journeys and showcased the impactful changes implemented within their schools. Actions ranged from conducting curriculum reviews to amplify diverse perspectives to empowering students through focus groups and advocacy roles. Many participants have reported a significant cultural shift within their schools, marked by a more inclusive ethos and greater confidence among staff to address DEIB challenges.
“It has been brilliant to work with a group of school leaders from Surrey in the SAfE cohort of our Leading DEIB in Schools programme,” said Hannah Wilson, Founder and Director of Diverse Educators. “We have spent a year supporting them in regular sessions to develop their consciousness, confidence, and competence in DEIB matters. Their showcases, where they shared their learning journeys and the impact of their work, were both inspiring and impressive. We look forward to seeing their efforts sustained and fully embedded.”
Francesca Porta-Rios, Inclusion Assistant Headteacher at Ravenscote Junior School, shared her experience: “This course has developed my confidence, consciousness, and competence around DEIB and made us more reflective of our practice as a school. Hannah and Bennie have challenged and supported the cohort throughout, and the group has been incredibly collaborative, offering valuable feedback and ideas. I am excited to see how we embed this learning further in our school and trust over the next 2-4 years.”
To ensure continued progress, participants have planned regular catch-up sessions to collaborate and strategise next steps for advancing the DEIB agenda across their schools.
Special thanks to the following leaders for sharing their DEIB journeys:
- Phil Reeves, Thamesmead School
- Liz Kemp, George Abbot School
- Charlotte Christie, Warlingham School
- Marie Curtis, Ash Grange Nursery and Primary School
- Louise Lander, Epsom Downs Community School
- Sarah Marshall, St Peter’s CofE Primary School
- Tim Samuel, Walton on the Hill Primary School & Kingswood Primary School
- Francesca Porta-Rios, Ravenscote Junior School
About Diverse Educators
Diverse Educators is a leading provider of resources and training to support schools with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. For more information, visit www.diverseeducators.co.uk
