Category: Communication

Minutes 13th October 2016

October 13, 2016 / / 0 Comments

Agenda

Apologies Matthew Searle and Ms Lucking

SIMS logs and meeting Mr Bull

Ms Wilberforce has not met with Mr Atherton, so the plan is now to meet with Mr Bull. Obai wil approach Ms Griffin and attempt to arrange a meeting.

Hair Issues – Ms Wilberforce has said that Mr Bull has not responded to her emails.

Alternative strategy regarding hari: we should invite Mr Bull to our meeting next week. Henry will do this.

Equalities Statement – Obai has made a comment on the proposed equality statement.  Students were told that they should comment on the blog last week or arrange a meeting with JN or KC.  This did not happen – JN and KC will be meeting.

Do ask Ms Critchley for a log in for the Equalities Group.

This is England – Jamal and Dewi met last week to discuss this campaign further.

Who will take over this project when FS goes on Maternity Leave?

Are there any proposed actions for next week? Chosen students to be in pictures and have a much more secure idea. Can we change the title of this project to ‘This is LNS’?

Motion passed – unanimous.

Roles for the group

Curriculum Development – Mr North & Freddie

Workshops – Proposal of Ms Lucking to take on this job

Further Recruitment of staff and students – all would be responsible for this.

Promotion of Ideas – Jamal & Ms Critchley

Promotion of Group

Events

Henry’s Position on Hairstyles

September 23, 2016 / / 0 Comments

Issues with the treatment of Max:

*No matter what the school’s new view on hair colour is, the school has not been consistent with their responses. Max dyed his hair blonde and has subsequently been sent to the referral unit until his hair grows out to his natural colour. There areis a substantial amount of boys that I know of (in the upper school alone) whothat have also dyed their hair different colours- mostly blonde, who have faced no consequences and are allowed to remain in lessons as normal. By taking Max out of lessons for this, – the school are failing their objective of creating the best possible education for each and every student. The job of a teacher isit to teach. It is not to worry about what the student that they’re teaching looks like. I think whoever has made the decision to remove Max from lessons has done a disservice to the school’s teachers., I am confident the teachers would be happy to teach Max with his hair in it’s current state.

*The school’s policy on hairstyles and haircuts is laughably flawed. Hairstyles/colours transcend school., Aa hairstyle or colour is not selected for school, it is is for the students’ own personal desires. Students are at school 35 hours a week. There are 168 hours a week. This means students spend less than a quarter of their time at school. Therefore it is outrageous that the school demands to control how the students look WHEN THEY AREN’T EVEN IN SCHOOL. Banning students’ legitimate methods of expressinggaining their individuality is just not progressive at all, it halts their growth as young men. By doing this you are compromising a school objective to develop the boys as people.

*How on earth does what colour hair a student has affect his/her or anyone else’s learning??? It simply does not. The only thing that affects learning in this place is taking said student out of lesson!

*If the school’s idea is that by being “stricter” on hairstyles the school are keeping up the nautical “ethos” then they should think again. The nautical ethos is to encourage young people to try out watersports, not trying to emulate exactly what the navy forces do. Anyway, the job of the young navy men these days is often patrolling the seas around a tropical island in the sun, hoping for the world to travel back in time to an era where the navy had any social or cultural relevance. The job is clearly less inviting these days as the numberamount of boys leaving LNS to join the navy has been significantlymajorly dwindling – to the point where having one boy join the navy from a year group is a raritycommodity. In the pre- Wworld Wwar Ttwo era the majority of boys graduated the school and left for the sea. So for the year 1915, the strict parameters of hair code mimicking the navy were highly suitable. They are not representative any more.

The school has taken backward steps since last year. I hope this is reversederadicated very soon.

Minutes 07 July 2016

July 14, 2016 / / 0 Comments

Apologies

Dewi

Mr Waugh

Miss Murphy

Miss Wilberforce is going to be late

Agenda

Last week’s minutes

Mr Waugh- talk about the Policies from Governors and how we will get this in motion.

Teachers Survey

Ms Lucking hasn’t spoken to Mr Atherton because she hasn’t seen him. Jamal and Obai will remind Mr Atherton to speak to Miss Lucking.

Making Waves

Obai wrote a piece and we gave him some things we’d like to add. He’ll redraft and send ASAP.

Mr Mummuluh’s Assembly on Shooting in Orlando

Mr Leonard will help to replace Obai who must withdraw his offer to support.

Brexit

Jack proposed the school supports the anti-racism demonstrations on Saturday 16th July. Schuil agrees. Jack will bring fliers. Ms Schuil will put them up. Jack thinks it is important to attend.

Equalities Goals

  • What can we do?
  • Make the curriculum more representative of our school population: how could we do it?
  • Diverse authors in English
  • Geography: look more at cultural human geography
  • Why are we teaching Key stage 3 for an exam when we could use the opportunities and freedom in the curriculum to promos diversity.
  • Obai is concerned people will feel offended speaking about their culture. Miss Lucking thinks we should still encourage it.
  • Propose some uses for tutor time?

Actions

 

Ms Lucking with meet Mr Atherton

Mr Leonard with help Mr Mummuluh with his assembly

Meet regarding Mr Prices’s post Brexit Statement. Obai.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting 30 June

June 30, 2016 / / 0 Comments

Apologies:

  • Michael
  • Jack Elderton

Agenda:

LAST WEEK’S ACTIONS:

Ms Lucking is to speak with Mr Atherton about a teacher survey

Has had a lot of trouble meeting Mr Atherton. Mr Atherton has agreed to speak in more than a corridor conversation

Making Waves

Ms Lucking outlined the scope of this magazine. She asked that we contribute an Equalities page with articles from students. She is open to anything – but there is a 7 day deadline. You can email Ms Lucking on mlucking@nautical.lambeth.sch.uk if you have anything to contribute

  1. Obai offered an article.

Counter-Culture

A small group are working on promoting discussion about our Equalities issues using a more innovative, less interpersonal means. Ms Lucking has been running workshops to see if we can produce imagery that might promote a response focussing on the language we use in relation to women. Ms Schuil, Mr Harris and Ms Lucking created images based on models from street art. An example is attached.

Mr Harris asked if the group could offer suggestions about what the focus for this might be?

Ms Lucking would like to run the workshop again at

Equalities statements from other schools

Obai has provided an example of Equalities goals. We should read this for next week where we’ll have a more detailed conversation about these.

Obai’s offer support to Mr Mumuluh

Dewi offered to help Obai support Mr Mumuluh in the Orlando assembly.

Post Brexit response

Formal submission from Mr Price:

Brexit Response
To quote today’s BBC news:

“the referendum has changed nothing legally but everything politically.”

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-uk-leaves-the-eu-36671629)

To this I would add socially. Already society is feeling the consequences of the controversial vote.

(https://www.yahoo.com/news/brexit-post-ref-racism-000000858.html)

We note the rise in racist abuse as reported by many reputable sources.

We believe that any response needs to be considered and rational.

Likewise we applaud the decision by the prime minister to condemn the attacks on migrant communities.

Furthermore that our own response should be as widely publicised and participatory as is feasible.

To this end I move that:

We prepare a statement of the type that names can be added. “We the undersigned”, followed by a statement on the social conditions post Brexit and a strong defence of the values of equality and tolerance for difference which has absolutely not been diminished.

We therefore will prepare such a statement and seek all avenues available, digital and analogue, to publicise this and allow our school community to add their names to it.

Obai seconded this motion, based on his own personal experience of this racist abuse.

Carried Unanimously

ACTION: Mr Price, Mr North, Mr Ermack

Obai: Not all Leave voters are racist.
Dewi: Many of us have seen this increase in xenophobic behaviour
Mr North: Agrees that it should be intelligent response
Mr Harris: Would this be an issue to explore in relation to the counter-culture project
Mr Price: It is our moral and legal obligation to respond to these breaches of our equality obligation

TIME FOR COUNTER-CULTURE WORKSHOP:

To be announced.

Action:

  • SIMS wording for logging incidents – Ms Critchley, Mr Waugh, Obai. Need to meet.

Equality Statements

June 29, 2016 / / 0 Comments

I have been researching some Equality Statements the past days. I found out some good ones out there in google. Most of them are really simple but effective. Let’s check them out.

MAYFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL has a simple Equality statement it is stated down below.

MAYFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL

Equality Statement

We welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010 to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations in relation to age (as appropriate), disability, ethnicity, gender, religion and sexual identity.

Guiding principles:

 

  • We value all learners equally
  • We recognise and respect difference
  • We foster positive attitudes and relationships, and a shared sense of cohesion and belonging
  • We observe good equalities practice in staff recruitment, retention and development
  • We aim to reduce and remove inequalities and barriers that already exist
  • We consult and involve widely
  • All of MHS policies are written with regard to and are compliant with the Equality Act 2010

The link for this equality statement http://www.mayflowerhigh.essex.sch.uk/page/?pid=377

Brandles School’s Equality Statement is simple and cool. Check it,

Equality Statement

Brandles embraces all the aims of The Equality Act 2010, which are:

  • To eliminate all discrimination
  • To enable everyone to have equal opportunities
  • To enable everyone to have equal life chances
  • To foster good relationships

Our objectives to achieve these aims are as follows:

We will :

  • Introduce a policy
  • Develop a resource base
  • Develop a personalised learning programme for all pupils
  • Ensure it is part of our induction process for staff and pupils

The Only thing that all of the equality statements have in common is The Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act 2010 is a document in depth -about equality right- designed by the government. In my opinion we shall have our equality statement based on The Equality Act 2010, because it covers everything.

Thanks
By Obai Ermak
London Nautical School Equalities Team

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Socio-Economic Inequality – (Open for discussion)

June 22, 2016 / / 0 Comments

Hi Everyone

I just wanted to explain a bit more into detail what I meant last week when bringing up Socio-Economic Inequality. It stems from the recent tragedy of the Orlando Mass LGBT Shooting which after sparked huge
support from many people and events in commemorating the people that tragically lost their lives and the families that were affected.

The event in particular I would like to bring up is the Tony Awards which is the big Broadway theatre awards hosted each year.  The ceremony this year was in dedication to the people who died in the shooting and had the message of being able to live up to whatever dream you have no matter who you are.

This brings up the idea of something like theatre being open to everyone but not necessarily in some cases.

The example I would like to talk about comes from the biggest Broadway show of the year which is a musical called Hamilton. This musical has a diverse cast of people from many different ethnicities showing equality between people of different races in the theatre industry.

Unfortunately, many people are unable to see Hamilton because of it’s astronomical ticket prices which can be in the region of $1,000 to $7,000 (£675.61 to £4,730.05) due to tickets being resold by 3rd party sellers who increase the price due to popularity.  This, however, means for the vast majority of people it would be too expensive to see the show.

This brings the idea of Socio-Economic Inequality as theatre is open to everyone no matter who they are but can also exclude people of any gender, race or sexual orientation as most people can’t pay this much on luxuries such as theatre tickets, even at regular prices theatre can be too expensive with West End prices ranging from £15 to £150, not including the price of dinner and merchandise.

Furthermore, this idea can also be linked with other forms of entertainment like sports which can be too expensive to go see like theatre, which means people are excluded from some types of events like football matches.

I was bringing this up as more of a discussion and the ideas people had on the subject as I feel it can be important to look at things which bring people together but sometimes indirectly push people away as well.

Lethaniel

Letter from Ms Lucking

November 22, 2015 / / 0 Comments

After the Teacher training session, Ms Lucking felt she had a whole lot more to say and asked if she could write to the equalities group. Here’s her letter:

Equalities Group

18/11/2015

17:59

Dear Equalities Group

I wanted to write a few words to say how grateful I was and am for your INSET earlier this evening.

Not only was it a thoughtful presentation but has definitely intensified a debate (for myself at the very least) with regard to the last  of your role plays.

I know that the intention was to allow the female voice to be heard on this matter. However it was illuminating in how we then were not making ourselves heard.

For me I think that the way we were asked became too confrontational/masculine in approach and therefore we reverted to type. We need perhaps a different forum to air these feelings and opinions ( I am emailing..) or at least begin to air these feelings and thoughts before more of us are ready to speak.

It felt that we didn’t have a lot to say but actually we do.

I feel that we are hyper aware of getting along with men in the workplace for pure survival so it has become difficult to openly voice our opinions/feelings on matters relating to sexism.

There were points I agreed with and others I disagreed with, although I understand where they are coming from… a comment about when sexist comments are challenged it being more powerful if coming from men and not us.

Across the board it needs to be said.

How we all say it will be different but still it  needs to be said. That’s ok. We all response differently and it makes us interesting and unique.

Role models of all genders are important for this.

I am no less powerful in saying it than a male.

To say yes implies we are less than other genders and I am not willing to give away my female power (particularly when it is so hard fought for every day).

The older I get the more I am attuned to it. I grew up in a different environment in an all girls school which set no limits on what women could do…we can rule the world….that was the norm. I want that outlook for all girls and boys to be the norm. Society depresses me in regard to this.  I fully understand how using the word girl in a negative way towards a boy highlighting perceived faults is constraining and limiting to the boys as well as offensive about and to women. Not allowing for expression outside of ‘male’ parameters is tremendously harmful to personal growth and your point at the end was so appropriate.

I think that this issue was also evidenced tonight by the female staff. Women are so used to being told to constrain themselves to be more like men, at work, to get ahead, that the constraints meant we couldn’t really cope with the discussion. Not yet. Often we go to default…which is humour to disperse the issue. Doesn’t deal with it though. And we couldn’t do that tonight so therefore alot of food for thought.

I have 2 young boys and I am very aware that I do not want them to have that attitude growing up.

I want for students (&staff) to be comfortable in expressing themselves however they wish and for these expressions to be valued as such.

Setting the example is key. If there is to be change we must become the change.

I was surprised that male staff did not really discuss this issue. I could see they were waiting for us to provide an answer however we roll differently and this needs much, much more work.

Thank you so much once again

Kind regards

Miss Lucking

Minutes 12th November

November 12, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Meeting for the Equalities Inset will take place after school today and on Monday in CW’s room, 201. All are welcome.

Mr Taylor will be delivering a whole school assembly on Monday and Tuesday on the topic of homophobia. He has approached the group and asked for genuine incidences where students have experienced or witnessed homophobia. Mr Taylor has requested that we write an account of incidences and get them to him by the end of today. Mr Taylor will quote you directly, but anonymously.

Mr Taylor will return at a later date to explain why he believes our second objective proposed to the governors should be amended.

SW has had trouble arranging a meeting for a follow up to the historical, and unresolved, racist incident. CW suggested notifying those involved of the date and time of the meeting at a reasonable time and then have the meeting to take place. The meeting will take place on Monday lunchtime, those in attendance will be CW, SW, Alistair and Dominic in Rm 203.

The planning for the International Day must still take place. Jack or SW will send an email with a date, time and place for the meeting.

 

aploogies: Ms Downes, Micheal Adej-Mensah

Ms Hayles and Mr Leonard asked to be added to the group mailing list.

Minutes 5th November

November 5, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Apologies: Jack Elderton

Last Week

  • Konditor and Cook is still ongoing. CW has taken personal responsibility for investigating this.
  • Categories on SIMS have still not been amended. CW has suggested that we now give a suggested list to the school Leadership group.
  • JT must still come to the Equalities group and present his concerns about our second goal presented to the Governors.
  • Planning for the teacher education session is on the 18th November. There will be a meeting for this on Monday 9th November after school in room 201, where the structure will be finalised.
  • International Day – meeting to be arranged for this committee. SW is still waiting for a meeting time with NM to confirm this can take place.
  • Lethaniel has uploaded the equalities resources from the Stonewall conference.

This Week

  • progress on historical racist incident previously discussed. The incident occurred over a month ago, but the matter has not yet been resolved in a way that all parties are happy with. It has now been proposed that a select number of our group would present this case to Senior Leadership. This group should comprise of a key stage 3 member, key stage 4 and a member of staff. Yonatan from Year 8 has volunteered, Christian Lambert, Dominic Pollard-Odle, Marcel Atchoe. We may choose randomly from this group. We will ask members of Key Stage 4. Members of staff: TD and SW. RP has also asked that he can become involved in proceedings as the incident happened during a Science Lesson.
  • defining list of categories for SIMS