Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Leighton Park

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Leighton Park

Leighton Park stands against everything to do with discrimination, exclusion, harassment, bullying and hatred in whatever form it takes. We actively promote fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance.  Leighton Park seeks to be a leading school in this regard, which delights in being diverse, open-minded and with a culture of compassionate inclusion. Leighton Park is a place where everyone is respected, yet we recognise that tolerance is but a step on the journey to acceptance and celebration of our human uniqueness. We aspire to remain agile in terms of dismantling the barriers and challenges to inclusion that may arise over time in schools and wider society.

We encourage applications from young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and others who would benefit from the transformative impact of our full bursaries.

What does DEI mean at Leighton Park?

We have a shared vision of what we understand DEI to mean at Leighton Park:

Diversity: the ways people differ, their uniqueness

Equity: taking into account individual need, for example differentiation of work

Inclusion: working pro-actively and strategically to ensure individuals are welcomed, valued, represented, respected and free to learn, excel, socialise and contribute without feeling othered, excluded or threatened

Our DEI vision is rooted in our commitment to equality to ensure that all individuals have a fair and equal opportunity to make the most of their unique lives and talents. Our commitment to DEI is also firmly rooted within (and informed by) our Quaker Principles and our commitment to nurture future global changemakers.

Our Quaker values
Take a look +

Our seven Quaker values of respect, integrity, simplicity, equality, peace, truth and sustainability embody our commitment to the well-being of our whole school community. In particular, we seek to safeguard and support people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act (2010).  We also pledge to uphold the rights of all diverse young people not to be discriminated against as enshrined in Article 2 of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child. In addition, the statutory safeguarding document for schools and colleges ‘Keeping Children Safe In Education’ (2022) places a statutory expectation upon schools to prevent bullying, including prejudice based and discriminatory bullying.

 

Find out more about our values-led approach +
Play

Building On Our Strengths

Our aspiration is for our ongoing shared commitment to DEI to permeate all aspects of school life and partnerships, whilst being mindful that there may always be more to do to ensure all diverse school stakeholders feel included and a genuine sense of belonging.

We are keen to build on existing skills, strengths and actions already taken, some relating to racial and LGBT+ inclusion and others to broader inclusion, sometimes working with single protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and at other times in a more nuanced and intersectional way.  We recognise that human identities and relationships are complex and that a genuine commitment to DEI should be lived and modelled throughout all aspects of school life.

Read our Equalities Policy +

Sample Actions on our DEI Journey

  • In September 2021 Leighton Park appointed our first school DEI lead
  • DEI Forum established (Autumn term 2021) and meets every half term and including staff and students
  • DEI training became a mandatory part of whole school staff induction
  • Staff and leadership undertook an online whole staff DEI audit undertaken (June 2022) in order to identify knowledge gaps and target ongoing professional development across the Equality strands
  • A review of the curriculum and classroom practice has been undertaken with Heads of Department identifying opportunities for greater diversity and exploring previously hidden histories and voices
  • Whole school Collects from senior leaders and DEI lead on Quaker values and our commitment to DEI to oppose bullying, prejudice and discrimination
  • Diversity and Inclusion Prefects appointed Summer (2022)
  • DEI lead and PHSE lead working with Old Leightonians to encourage a more diverse range of speakers in whole school Collects and PHSE sessions
  • Whole school events, such as Black History Month, LGBT+ History Month and Smashing Stereotypes

Equality Act 2010 Protected Characteristics

Leighton Park School has policies and procedures in place to support all with protected characteristics – pupils and staff alike – and to ensure equality of opportunity and treatment. These cover each of the following characteristics as identified by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender
  • Marriage and Civil Partnership
  • Pregnancy and Maternity
  • Race
  • Religion or Belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual Orientation
Decorative stone work at Leighton Park

"It remains a Quaker-run school as the majority of governors are Quakers and, although no member of the Friends remains on the staff and only penny numbers of pupils are Quakers, the school lives by and exudes those gentle, civilised and socially responsible values. Few who leave here take nothing of those with them, and many see them as a guide for a healthy life."

Good Schools Guide

related articles

June 5, 2023

Grant for Green Good +

It has been a year of sustainable successes for our Nature Environment Wildlife Taskforce (NEWTs), who in March, persuaded several schools to get on board with their Meat Free Mondays … Read More +

May 22, 2023

Tugging the Heart Strings +

Twenty-nine students from Farley Hill Primary School joined our Biology team on 22nd May for a heart dissection workshop exploring the intricacies of the body’s inexhaustible muscle. The Year 6s … Read More +

May 19, 2023

Seeing Clearly; Raising Cash for Cataract Operations +

During National Mental Health Awareness Week Amicus, our Sixth Form charity group, organised an own clothes day to raise everyone’s spirits and boost wellbeing across the park as well as … Read More +

How can we help?

Take the next step by selecting an option below, or if you want to drop us a quick message, you can do so with the form.

Shinfield Road
Reading
Berkshire, UK
RG2 7DE
+44 (0) 118 987 9600
admissions@leightonpark.com
Request a prospectus Arrange a visit Make an application
Contact Us
I agree with your terms & conditions and privacy policy *
I would like to receive updates from Leighton Park, including updates about upcoming events