HEADMASTERâS INTERVIEW
Felsted on the right road to developing a more diverse and inclusive culture Developing a culture of inclusivity and diversity at a modern independent school is not an easy challenge, but it is one that Headmaster Chris Townsend believes Felsted is living up to. He discusses the issue of diversity with James Garner
When former pupil Dara Akomolafe (fdc06-18) posted a powerful message on his Instagram account that picked up hundreds of comments from former and current students, this provided new impetus for the school to do better. Since then, Chris has engaged with Dara, first via Instagram, and then in person, and he is pleased that Dara supports the schoolâs equality and diversity committee and has contributed to the schoolâs educational programme.
As with many institutions, Felsted has had to look closely at itself and recognise that it needs to do more in order to be more diverse and inclusive. âWhether that is the staff, pupil body, curriculum or just in our thinking,â says Headmaster Chris Townsend. He says that the school has reviewed the way it manages induction for new pupils, recruits new staff, the images it uses to market itself, and the curriculum in the broadest sense, to make sure that it is encouraging diversity and ensuring that all pupils and staff are included fully in Felsted life. âI have absolutely no doubt, however, that we are only a small way along this road,â he adds. âThe killing of George Floyd really shocked the world â and quite rightly soâ, says Chris. He adds that the Black Lives Matter campaign that ensued and spread around the world has given the issue fresh impetus. âThe images from Bristol of the removal of the statue of Colston was a particularly powerful one,â says Chris, before reflecting again on the situation at Felsted.
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âMany of the students are already fully understanding of the need not just to acknowledge diversity, but to celebrate differences, in a multi-cultural global community both in school and beyond.â
âWe are committed to ensuring that the experience of every student and member of staff is the best that it can be⊠â âWe know that in the past, pupils from minority backgrounds at the school have not always had a good experience, and even when this is the result of âmicro-aggressionsâ rather than outright hostility, it is, quite frankly, not good enough,â Chris adds.
The equality and diversity committee is one of the key actions that the school has undertaken. It is made up of pupils, former pupils and staff, and has sought to drive change in the school. It is a forum in which views can be aired, but it is also a vehicle for change and improvement. So far it has launched various initiatives, such as surveys of pupils and staff, Black History Month and a review of the curriculum and the displays around the school, in order to ensure that the environment is more representative of all in society. âThere is much work still to be done, of course, but I am hugely grateful to Rakesh Pathak, our head of history, who is chairing this
