1. We ensure educational materials are free from gender stereotypes.

2. We challenge expectations of professions typically associated with a particular gender, for example include a female construction worker or soldier and a male secretary or nurse.

3. We avoid the term ‘guys,’ which may make girls feel excluded; we use gender-neutral pronouns like ‘everyone.’

4. We do not refer to stereotypical characteristics like ‘boys don’t cry’ or ‘girls don’t fight’ which limits understanding of gender roles (In Nursery, our children are allowed to choose and dress in roles of their choice, without stereotypes).

5. We do not segregate boys and girls into separate lines, separate sports activities and mix seating up in the classroom

6. We ensure any educational materials used show genders in equal measure

7. We mix boys and girls to work on projects together

8. We identify instances of gender bias, through assemblies, debates, across the curriculum, themed days or historical events, laws and cultural changes.

9. We have genderless games at play and lunchtimes eg football is played in year groups (not by children's gender).

The video below clearly explains the need for gender equality to our children.

//www.youtube.com/embed/ibi4noJRtps#t=0.5

Our equitable classrooms

At John Stainer Primary School and Nursery, we understand that our children and staff all bring unique perspectives to the classroom. We know that our children are different, have varied strengths and different needs. Our staff provide targeted support accordingly. These include helping EAL children to understand learning in an unfamiliar language, giving children with ADHD a quiet space to complete their learning, running sensory circuits, INPP sessions, providing ELSA etc. As such, individual factors do not hold our children back from reaching their full learning potential — we do not allow the following factors to negatively impact on learning.

Race
Culture
Gender
Religion
Ethnicity
Sexual orientation
Individual experiences
Socio-economic status

Celebrating cultural diversity

Each year, everyone in our school community come together to celebrate the wide range of cultures, religions and backgrounds in our< school. This demonstrates our commitment to modelling tolerance and respect for all. In this annual celebration, children and their families dress in their traditional clothing, learn about different cultures and try foods brought in by families from different parts of the world.

Each day during a week of Black History month, the school kitchen provides food from a different part of the world. There is a wide variety of visitors from different backgrounds who share their expertise, achievements and career journey with the children. This encourages children to respect and appreciate diversity while learning to value different cultures in and around our community. Our six core values and the Fundamental British Values are the backbone to everything we do here at John Stainer but these values and attitudes are even more evident during our cultural events.

Here are some of our winners from our Black History Home Learning. The children's work was inspired by Martin Luther's "I Have a Dream" speech.

What if Ottobah Cugoano didn’t protest? What if Malorie didn’t write? What if they all did not take a stand? Where would we be now? What can we can learn from them?

Last year, a new Tube map was published following a collaboration between Black Cultural Archives and Transport for London (TfL) to celebrate Black History in London.

They replaced the names of stations on the map with the names of Black heroes across a wide sweep of history who have contributed to London, and the UK as a whole, in many different ways. Some are well known figures and some individuals are just as worthy of celebration and recognition. The children were tasked with a home learning project, in which they chose one of the individuals to research their amazing life and create a life map that tells their story. See some of the winning projects below.

The following documents provide more information about equality in our school.

We are committed to targeting ambitious outcomes for Black Caribbean heritage and Black and Minority Ethnic pupils

Lewisham Learning - Tackling Race Inequality Pledge

As a Lewisham school, we are committed to working together with all Lewisham schools to promote and embed race equality and achievement for all.

We signed this pledge, written by a group of Lewisham Headteachers, as a step towards achieving that end.

John Stainer Primary has much to be proud of and we will use this pledge as an impetus to continue those existing successful practices that enable black and minority ethnic children to achieve and help to make our school such a positive, diverse and inclusive community.

We will also use this pledge as a basis to discuss and question our current practice to identify ways in which we can improve our provision for children and families of all minority ethnic groups.

Improving and embedding race equality is a key priority for all stakeholders here at John Stainer Primary.

Our Leaders, Governors and staff have signed up to this pledge. Here is a copy of the pledge and the letter sent to Parents/Carers about signing up to the pledge.

There are 32 languages spoken in our school community and 34 cultures represented. It is evident throughout the school that multiculturalism and diversity is appreciated, encouraged and celebrated by all.

It is evident throughout the school that multiculturalism and diversity is appreciated, encouraged and celebrated by all - the language of the half term project, our weekly EAL club, the Cultural Food tasting evening and dress up days for families, the diverse workforce and the use of core texts from different cultures are a few ways in which we celebrate cultural diversity.