Our Approach to the Audit with Anima Leadership

Branksome Hall engaged an external auditor, Anima Leadership, to conduct a DEI audit through a series of comprehensive measurements that focused on school climate and the experiences of marginalized students and employees. School climate describes the overall quality of the environment, including shared beliefs and values, relationships and social interactions, in addition to physical and emotional safety. The Chandaria Research Centre has recently released a research brief explaining how the school approached measurement of DEI in more detail.

Branksome Hall requested a detailed analysis of three areas:

1. Student experience (including parents/guardians of Junior School students, Grades 7-12 students, and alums),

2. Employee experience, and

3. Organizational practices.

Community members were surveyed between May 2021 and February 2022. Focus groups were held between October

2021 and January 2022. Participants’ identities were protected so that Branksome Hall would not know who participated. The focus groups provided a safe and confidential space for students, employees, parents/guardians and alums to express their thoughts on what Branksome Hall was doing well and where it needed to focus its efforts.

The audit was structured in a way that enabled us to hear from minority community members from many perspectives and different backgrounds. These included engaging students, parents/guardians, alums and employees who could speak to the Black experience, other racialized minorities, the LGBTQ2S+ community and allies through community sessions.

In accordance with our stated commitments and best practices, we are sharing this overview of the audit findings within our community so that these results may inform and advance many important conversations over the coming academic year and beyond.