Headmaster’s interview on diversity

HEADMASTER’S 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

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. “Whether that is the staff, pupil body, curriculum or just in our thinking,” 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. “I have absolutely no doubt, however, that we are only a small way along this road,” he adds. “The killing of George Floyd really shocked the world – and quite rightly so”, says Chris. He adds that the Black Lives Matter campaign that ensued and spread around the world has given the issue fresh impetus. “The images from Bristol of the removal of the statue of Colston was a particularly powerful one,” says Chris, before reflecting again on the situation at Felsted.

“We are committed to ensuring that the experience of every student and member of staff is the best that it can be… ”

“We 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 ‘micro-aggressions’ rather than outright hostility, it is, quite frankly, not good enough,” Chris adds. 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 school’s equality and diversity committee and has contributed to the school’s educational programme. “Many 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.” 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. “There 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

“…being ‘woke’, as in being alive to the concerns and feelings of others, will be a crucial factor in being successful”

committee, and Rebecca Purdy, one of our assistant heads, who has led sessions for the staff on unconscious bias. “I think that what is most important in this area, though, is that the school is not interested in improving its track record, which makes it sound like something that we have to do for someone else. “We are committed to ensuring that the experience of every student and member of staff is the best that it can be, and that means that we must ensure that we celebrate diversity in all its forms, and ensure equality of opportunity. be representative of society when you put such a high financial cost on entry to the school?” “I do think that despite that, there are three ways in which diversity does thrive at Felsted,” he adds. The first is that the school is a global community, of more than 30 different nationalities. “This provides a rich diversity of cultural experiences from which we can all learn.” The second is that the Felsted community includes many students who are the first generation in their families to access independent education. “This provides a social diversity within the community and demonstrates that independent schools do not have to be the enemy of social mobility, especially in a part of the country that is extremely entrepreneurial,” he adds. The third is that the school is always looking at ways to provide life-changing bursaries to support young people who would otherwise be unable to access a Felsted education. This is achieved through various ways, Chris adds. Generous support from OFs and current parents; through the school mission and its link with the Royal Docks Academy; through a partnership with the Royal Springboard Foundation; or through its own financial commitment to bursary funding. This all helps create a much more diverse pupil body to the benefit of all students.

“Pupils are more prepared to call out what they see as inappropriate behaviours… ”

“This is also essential as part of the education for young people today, in order to prepare them for the world into which they will soon be going.” On reflection, Chris wishes that the school had set up the committee before. “I do feel that we should have been tackling many of these issues sooner. But, it is not possible to change what has happened, and we must commit to doing better now.” He says there will be time to reflect on its work in the future and assess whether the school has achieved the change it wants to. “I suspect that there will be things that we will be pleased about, but there will still be more that we could be doing. Felsted is a proudly global community, and in that context, diversity really must be a strength for the school. “Young people now are much more skilled in their engagement with political and social issues than previous generations and they are the ones who will make sure that change does happen. “We could do more, but we are committed to doing what it takes to ensure that we see real progress.” I ask Chris whether a selective independent school like Felsted can truly be a diverse and equal community. “That is a very valid criticism of the world of independent schools,” he says. “How can you “The vast majority are,” he says. “Some still have things to learn, so we do seek to educate, to inform and to challenge, and through this, we believe that we are creating the right culture and establishing the right values.

“…diversity within the school benefits all of our students and staff”

“Pupils are more prepared to call out what they see as inappropriate behaviours and we have used pupils to develop our charter for behaviour, which seeks to address any discriminatory or hostile behaviour.”

“I would still like to see us support more young people to experience what I believe to be a very special education. Partly because it can change lives for them, but also because diversity within the school benefits all of our students and staff.” A top down approach, is obviously necessary in the school, but I ask the headmaster whether the student body is fully engaged and aware of the issues? He admits it is challenging, for example social media can also be a magnet for more extreme viewpoints and this is something that the school has to be mindful of when working with young people.

Chris is also prepared to defend the school’s stance in the face of the anti-woke lobby, who believe this is political correctness gone mad.

“We are not educating young people for the world of 2010, but for the world of 2030, and to be successful in that not-so-distant future, being ‘woke’, as in being alive to the concerns and feelings of others, will be a crucial factor in being successful.” He is also confident that the generation of young people currently at Felsted will leave a legacy of a more diverse, cultural understanding than any before it. “Then, the following group of students will surpass that,” he adds.