DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

This term, in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush, pupils in the Prep School learnt about the significance of this event. They considered what it would have been like for members of the Windrush Generation arriving in Britain, as well as the impact they have had on making Britain into a multicultural society.

During Week 10, the school took the opportunity to celebrate all the things that make each of us different. The objective of this week was to help children to appreciate that they are all unique, and special in their own way, and that it is these differences which help to make St. Edmund’s such an amazing place. Many of the children decorated flowers to display the things that make them different.

Empire Windrush Day

22 June marks the 75th Anniversary of the arrival of the ship HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury docks in London in 1948. On board were passengers travelling from the Caribbean to Britain to live and work there. They would become known as the Windrush Generation

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

These were the first black immigrants to arrive in Britain after World War II. They and other immigrants would play an important part in helping to rebuild the country after the war. They would also shape British in other ways, introducing AfroCaribbean culture and traditions and helping to transform Britain into the rich multicultural society it has become.

Multicultural – when a society is made up of different cultural, ethnic and racial groups, all of whom contribute to and shape the overall culture of that society.

Multiculturalism - when all the different cultural or racial groups that make up a society have equal rights and opportunities, and none is ignored or regarded as unimportant.