Race Charter Mark

Darrick Wood Infant School & Nursery awarded the prestigious Silver Race Charter Mark

We are very proud to announce that that Darrick Wood has been awarded the Silver Race And Conscious Equality (RACE) Chartermark from Fig Tree International, which provides advice, challenge and support for schools across the UK and internationally.

The award is in recognition of the work Darrick Wood Infant School & Nursery and the Chancery Academy Trust, have undertaken in recent year in promoting improvement in relation to race equality, inclusion and diversity.

Angelina Idun, Director of Education, SSAT said:

“I am delighted that Darrick Wood Infant & Nursery School has been awarded the silver RACE Charter mark. Their application and action plan clearly show a positive ethos and culture which champions and strives for conscious equality and inclusivity throughout the school community. We look forward to continuing to work with the school to see their strategic vision fully realised”

Ann Palmer, CEO, Fig Tree International said:

“I am absolutely delighted that Darrick Wood Infant & Nursery School is receiving this recognition.  This recognises their determination to make a difference, not only in their own school, but also in the local community.  Darrick Wood Infant & Nursery School has joined a great group of schools and colleges who are part of the RACE Charter Mark community. We applaud them for their work and aspirations to build a more inclusive society.”

How we have achieved Race Charter Mark

At Darrick Wood Infant and Nursery Group, we are committed to improving race equality and prioritising an inclusive culture where staff, students, parents and partners of all ethnicities are equally valued.

The Schools, Students and Teachers network (SSAT) and Fig Tree International have worked in partnership to develop the Race and Conscious Equality (RACE) Charter Mark for schools, academies, colleges and centres, both in the state and private sectors. The Race Charter Mark is for those institutions that wish to demonstrate their commitment to action and improvement in relation to race equality in all aspects of their work, as educators, employers and community leaders.

The RACE (Race and Conscious Equality) Charter Mark offers a formal way of championing race equality and confirming to all stakeholders that we are prioritising an inclusive culture where staff, students, parents and partners of all ethnicities are valued.

To achieve the Charter Mark, the staff at John Wood School and Nursery have completed a comprehensive package of training for governors, senior and middle leaders. We have created a detailed action plan, which works alongside our strategic planning documentation and will be reviewed regularly to ensure that progress is being made and sustained in all areas of EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion).

Our children explore an inclusive curriculum that celebrates our diverse school community. Through a social, cultural and environmental justice lens, our children learn in an environment which promotes powerful cultural and social capital and nurtures a sense of belonging for all.   We have carefully adapted our curriculum to foster a curiosity about the world we live in. Our curriculum promotes a range of authors, artists, athletes, scientists, musicians, explorers and people from our local community from a diverse range of backgrounds. Throughout the curriculum, children are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills, enabling them to consider and challenge questions of social justice, inequality and environmental integrity. We plan opportunities for our children to engage in dialogue, practical tasks and appropriate actions to enable them to explore diversity, race, social equity, and equality. Pupils become nurturing, responsible citizens of the world, who approach scenarios involving race and diversity with sensitivity and thoughtful curiosity. Languages are positively celebrated and families are welcomed into our school to share their culture and traditions throughout the school year.  We warmly invite representatives from different religions, cultures and backgrounds into school to continue to enhance our curriculum.

The areas covered by the RACE Charter Mark, on which we will be working, are:

  • Race at work
  • Assessing equality
  • Leadership and management
  • Conscious curriculum
  • Professional development
  • Stakeholder engagement

Our senior leader, appointed to spearhead our work on the RACE Charter Mark, is Miss I Samuels – Assistant Headteacher. (include Isabella’s photo from our website please).

She is ably supported by our RACE Team including Mrs Crawford, Head of School, Mrs Stephenson, SENCo and Mrs Sullivan, Our Year 2 Group Leader.

Our governing body are also fully supportive of our work in this area:

“As a parent governor at Darrick Wood Infant School, I am proud of the school’s ongoing and developing work on RACE (Racial Awareness and Cultural Education). The school is committed to promoting racial equality and inclusion. This ongoing development reflects the school’s dedication to building a community where every child, regardless of their background, feels seen, heard, and respected. I am confident that these efforts will continue to grow, ensuring that our children develop a strong understanding of the importance of diversity, fairness, and empathy in their lives.”

Selina Tamana, Parent Governor

For more information about the RACE Charter Mark, please click here.