Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: NEPI Meeting 3 - 2nd Year

On Thursday 22nd January we held our third North East Primary Innovators (NEPI) day of this academic year at Cragside Primary School.  It was wonderful to be back in school and have the opportunity to see the children in demonstrating their creativity in lessons. The focus of the day was Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We were very pleased to welcome Peter Hopkins to our third NEPI day to speak about Equality, Divisity and Inclusion with a focus on Islamophobia. Peter is a Professor of Social Geography at Newcastle University where his research focuses upon the intersections of race, religion, gender, childhood and youth, and migration and asylum.

Peter spoke about Islamophobia and the profound impact it has on the lives of many members of our school community. His insights prompted deep conversations about the role schools play in tackling these issues and how this may look different within different school settings depending on the demographics.

The creative habit of Collaboration

In the afternoon session we explored the creative habit of collaboration and what it looks like in practice for our children. We had discussed the importance of building the skills to work with others, combining diverse perspectives, skills and ideas linked to the morning session with Peter.

Classroom visits then provided an opportunity to observe a range of collaborative activities in action. Across year groups from Reception to Year 6, pupils were seen sharing ideas, solving problems collectively and supporting one another’s learning. These observations offered valuable insight into how collaborative skills develop progressively as children move through school. Following the visits, staff reflected on their findings, highlighting effective practice and identifying further opportunities to strengthen collaborative learning within their own schools.

The second part of the afternoon focused on collaborative leadership and its role in schools. Discussions examined how collaborative leadership empowers staff, supports professional growth, develops a cohesive approach to teaching and learning and fosters a strong sense of shared ownership. Colleagues reflected on how these approaches are currently embedded within their own settings and considered ways to further develop and extend collaborative leadership practices moving forward.