Hello

Approximately 33% of the school students in the UK are from an ethnic minority background. However, with only 8% of children’s books featuring a main character from a minority background, how does your school make sure that every student feels represented in the classroom? 

This issue isn’t just UK centric, schools around the globe are struggling to provide learning materials that reflect their ever growing, culturally diverse student populations. With some international schools quoted to have over 90 different nationalities within their school communities, making sure minority groups feel represented is of great importance.

At Amazing People Schools, we want to make it easy for teachers to feature diverse voices in their classrooms. Representation matters, and that is why we are raising the bar for DEI resources. If you can’t see it, you can’t be it, so why not download some of our great FREE DEI resources below?

Use our handy planner to make sure you don’t miss any important events this month.

Here are some key dates for your diary in May…

Update: Down Syndrome Act 2022: 

Redressing inequality and changing thoughts about character by supporting needs

Following on from our feature about World Down Syndrome Day in last month’s newsletter, we wanted to share the news that on the 28 April 2022, the Down Syndrome Bill, brought to Parliament by Dr Liam Fox with the help of the National Down Syndrome Policy Group (NDSPG), became law in the UK. This new law will provide essential “guidance on meeting the needs of persons with Down syndrome”.

One of the first teachers to champion Amazing People Schools many years ago was Danise Grant, who has since left teaching and now works with our schools’ team on Diversity and Inclusion. Her daughter was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, and we were speaking to her earlier this week about the new law:

“I started working with Amazing People Schools because I believed that the challenges young people face could be brilliantly met by the character strengths they develop. Three years ago, Arelyse entered my life, and I had no idea how character changing she would be. There were many complexities about the condition and its implications that I would have to learn and am still learning to navigate through. I discovered empathy, kindness, courage and gratitude within myself, in ways that I could not have imagined before. In her I have seen adaptability, curiosity, resilience and perseverance not usual in many typical 3-year-olds! “

We’d like to join Danise by saying a massive congratulations and thank you to those who worked tirelessly to change the world of those with Down Syndrome.

In other news:

Frances and Selena had the pleasure of a chat with Toria Bono to record a session for the wonderful Tiny Voice Podcast. They talked in depth about the link between character and wellbeing and the importance of diversity and inclusion in schools. We can’t wait for you to hear the episode. Follow along on Twitter and LinkedIn with hashtag #TinyVoiceTalks. 
Access Toria's accounts here.

Our friends at the World Literacy Foundation have asked us to share information about their 2022 Youth Ambassador Program. Applications open 9 – 27 May. This is an amazing way for your students to showcase some of the skills they have strengthened and developed. It is an incredible global program that gives students the opportunity to contribute greatly to our world. 
Find out more here.

Cross your fingers for us on Friday 6 May when the winners are announced for the BESA Awards 2022. Our online learning platform has been nominated in both the PRIMARY ICT and SECONDARY ICT categories. Wish us luck!!

WINNER: We are happy to announce that Hawthorne Primary have won our Schools North East competition. They get a free year’s subscription to our learning platform – we are looking forward to supporting them as they implement Amazing People Schools across their curriculum.

4pm Wednesday 18 May

Free CPD Training - Developing a whole-school approach to character.

Sign up here

Friday 20 May

Healthy MindEd conference, Schools North East

Find out more

To round up this month, we thought we’d finish with a lovely bit of apt feedback we received.

“It has been very valuable for them to see a variety of ethnicities, genders, names, and periods of time celebrated as part of the amazing people programme, and has definitely opened up their eyes to some really interesting oracy debate topics.”

Tamzin Haines, Ridgewood School

If you’d like support in implementing diverse voices across your curriculum, just click here and one of our friendly team will arrange a 1:1 appointment to explain how we can help.

Until next month…

Amazing People Schools

All schools are invited to a free trial of our stories and resources. All we need is your name and school and we will send you login details