Agenda:

• Actual Jobs
• Hair issues
• Halal Food
• SIMS Categories
• Incident Report
• “This is England” campaign

Apologies:

Henry, Dewi, Matthew.

Minutes:

• Actual Jobs – areas of responsibility (We agreed these and will assign people to them in the next meeting)

1. SIMS Report – Henry
2. Assemblies –
3. Curriculum –
4. Workshops –
5. Promotions –
6. Events –

• Hair

Obai reported that the school seems to have inconsistencies in the way they address people’s hairstyles.

Henry has written a paper on this – we will deal with this next week.

• Racist Incidents

Mr Harris joined the Equalities Group at this point. In a discussion about the resolution process he developed in accord with our recommendations (He explored the use of a student conference: both students were present of their own volition and time was taken to explore the incident. Eventually both acknowledged/accepted each other’s position and the perpetrator apologised for his actions, which was accepted by the victim).

We concentrated on what happens if a resolution is not reached. To which Mr Harris added the following observation:

A resource exists in the LSC to provide a programme about prejudice – we would like to understand this more and encourage this to be used.

A proposal for working together in the future was developed:

1. Mr Harris will work with a Year 9 representative of the Equalities group to develop a formal policy for dealing with incidents of prejudice.
2. The proposed student conference will happen after the school’s formal sanctions have been enacted – usually initially a period in referral. This will be a voluntary meeting, but will be a way for students to demonstrate they’re serious.
3. Ms Phillips will be invited to show the Equalities group her LSC anti-prejudice progamme.
4. Some discussion occurred about whether parents should be involved in this meeting. This matter remained unresolved.

Next Week:

• Actual Jobs
• Hair issues
• Halal Food
• SIMS Categories
• Incident Report
• “This is England” campaign

Apologies:

1. Ms Lucking (letter attached)
   

   For the Group’s information:
   1. I have organised again with Mr Atherton to meet with him regarding the Women’s Group/Parity Project. We now have a meeting for Monday next week.
   I will feedback regarding the issues we discussed after the meeting.

   2. I have had no one else pop by to do any Counterculture Workshops. The workshop we did do was very inspiring and super productive.
   I agree with Liam Harris’ suggestion of using the Group’s ideas about issues to address via the Counterculture group. I look forward to working on this in the new academic year and will continue to work on this over the summer as it’s quite close to my heart.

   3. Making Waves – I know that I was meant to receive an updated version of the article for Making Waves – but I haven’t received it yet. Please could it kindly be resent – I am holding a page in the magazine for it.

   Many thanks for all your support. I have enjoyed every moment of Equalities this year and look forward to many more.
   With Best wishes to all for a wonderful summer

Matters Arising

1. Mr Leonard gave an assembly in relation to the Orlando shootings and it appeared to go well. The Year 7 students who were at the assembly
2. Mr Price’s statement see the minutes from 30 June 2016 – Mr Price would like to distribute his statement for feedback and input before it goes out under our names.

Statement on Racist and Xenophobic Incidents

The recent political events in the United Kingdom, although democratic and legal, have been linked to a fivefold increase in instances of reported racism and religious bigotry including Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism.

We would utterly condemn any mistreatment of our fellow pupils or staff, on any grounds. Specifically we condemn all xenophobia and racism in any form.

We stand as a group of young people and their teachers wholly opposed to these acts, wherever they may occur. They are to us abhorrent and unlawful. We will not accept them happening in our school or in our wider community.

Furthermore, we will work to protect and support those who are targeted by hateful rhetoric and action in coming forward. They have a guarantee of any and all support they may need in reporting these abuses that we can offer, and call for swift action to be taken when reports are made.

Stefano indicated a concern that any system that might arise could be open to mis-use. Mr Price clarified that this statement doesn’t propose a system, it is simply a statement of our support for people who may be experiencing racism and xenophobia.

Mr Price compared this to the American Constitution which makes statements like “All men are created equal”, which then the country has to interpret.

This statement was adopted unanimously by the members present.

Chris identified that this statement may be a good opportunity for us to shift our group’s focus towards specific actions we can take to tackle matters of xenophobia and religious prejudice.

Mr Price suggested that we circulate this document to the wider student body allowing them to be more clear about this position – Matthew and Mr Waugh agreed to act on this.

Mr Price and Mr Leonard both said this would be their last Equalities meeting – Obai said that Mr Leonard has done a fantastic job and that he would be missed by us all and that there will always be a place for him in our group.