Who/What are the Equalisers?

At Long Bennington Church of England Academy, our school vision is to “Bring kindness, joy and integrity to all that we do”.  To ensure that we live out our vision every day we have a group of children who volunteer each year to form our Equalisers committee.  They have a really important job within our school which includes the following:

• Ensuring we respect and celebrate difference and diversity
• Ensuring everyone is welcomed into our school community
• Recognising that we are all unique
• Ensuring everyone feels safe and has a sense of belonging
• Helping to educate others about diversity and how to be fair
• If things aren’t fair, we spot it and communicate this back

How does it work?

The Equalisers meet on a regular basis with Ms Woodrow who helps to coordinate things. During these meetings the children look ahead to future national events that we can mark in school or review the findings of the surveys they carry out.  They also collect pupil voice from their own classes and bring this to the meetings. They aim to represent the ‘voice’ of every individual in the school community.

What have we done recently?

Over the course of the past year the Equalisers have achieved a lot, including:

• A whole school survey to collect pupil voice about diversity and inclusion
• Arranged a limb difference day to raise awareness and celebrate the successes of individuals with limb differences including a member of our own school community. We also raised money for the charity Limbo.
• Odd socks day for Down Syndrome as we have children in our school family who this impacts upon
• Arranging a ‘Proud to be me!’ day to mark Pride month
• Help to lead Collective Worship, for example as part of Black History Month and to teach about Protected Characteristics

Student Reflection

Here is what some of our Equalisers think about the role:

Seren “I want to be an Equaliser so that in school everyone can be comfortable with who they are.”

Isobel: “I want to help make the world a fairer place and encourage people to be who they are.”

Vito “I want to help people who have different coloured skin to be treated fairly.”

Daisy “I wanted to help people with disabilities to be included.”

Emma “I joined The Equalisers because I want people to know that even if they are different they are special.”

Heather “I really like helping people and by joining The Equalisers I can help more.”

Next Steps. . .

• To inform children about epilepsy and show support to The Epilepsy Society by dressing-up in purple on 26^th March
• To support Autism Awareness month by leading an informative assembly on World Autism Awareness Day 2nd April
• To work with the whole school to ensure that there is respect and equal opportunities between genders particularly in relation to sport.