The purpose of the Quality, Diversion and Inclusion activities at Weald are:
To create a positive school culture
EDI promotes a culture of respect, understanding, and acceptance. It fosters a sense of community where students and staff feel valued and appreciated, leading to better outcomes for everyone.
To promote a sense of belonging
We want to help students and staff feel like they belong, leading to better mental health and wellbeing. Students who feel like they belong are more likely to attend school regularly and have better outcomes. Schools whose staff feel like they belong have higher retention rates and lower absenteeism.
To improve academic performance
When students feel included and valued, they are more likely to engage in their learning and perform better academically. Teachers who value diversity are more likely to create an inclusive curriculum that meets the needs of all students.
To prepare students for the future
In today's global society, it's essential to prepare students to live and work in diverse environments. By promoting EDI at Weald, we can equip students with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
A number of events take place over the school year. Often these are student-led, but we have also welcomed a number of external providers and speakers to Weald. Events have included special assemblies on European Day of Languages, Black History Month, Diwali, Holocaust Memorial Week, LGBT+ History Month, Ramadam and International Women's Day. Black History Month also encompassed bake sales, themed lunches and South African dance and language cultural workshops.
The Weald International Film Festival was a Year 9 Enrichment Day activity that provided scope for a host of cross-curricular activities. The students watched films on the theme of 'children of courage' in French, German, Spanish and Japanese at the Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks. Students were invited to consider people with autism and disabilities, refugees and illegal migrants from a different perspective. To supplement this, the History and Geography departments led cross-curricular sessions on migration in Mexico, Resistance Groups in Nazi Germany and Kindertransport in the Holocaust. The day was designed to promote the values of internationalism, empathy and resilience, as well as practising GCSE speaking skills in French, Spanish and German.