QCL's New Diversity Action Group

Earlier this year, in the wake of the horrific murder of George Floyd, many Old Queens got in touch with the College to ask how we were addressing the serious issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement.  One of the important ways that the College responded was to found our Diversity Action Group. This group brings together members from all parts of our community - including Council Members, Old Queens, teachers and pupils of colour - to ensure that action is taken in terms of updating the curriculum and addressing unconscious bias.

To learn more about the Group’s progress so far, please read this report from our Senior Student, Didi Robinson 

What the Diversity Action Group has Achieved so Far - By Didi Robinson, II Seniors 

Thanks to the ongoing work of the Diversity Action Group, we have now taken several concrete steps towards anti-racism and inclusion at Queen’s. The hard work, time and effort the teaching staff have put into reforming our curriculum – across not just History, but also subjects such as English, Music and Science - has been especially appreciated. The work to ensure that our curriculums across all subjects allow for a greater understanding of not only Queen’s pupils, but the world around us, has left us, the students, feeling optimistic for the future ahead.  

It has been fascinating to hear the perspective of those Queen’s alumnae, who are members of the Diversity Action Group, who have brought to light some previously unknown ways in which discrimination is so inherently a part of our society. For example, when studying medicine, it is exceedingly uncommon to learn the way in which dermatological conditions affect black bodies. Not only this, but it is such a key learning experience for so many different year groups to be able to be a part of a professional environment through the Diversity Action Group.  

While it is so positive to see the way in which changes are being talked about being made, it is now time to see these promises implemented across the school. We must ensure that these actions are successful through reports and consistent monitoring. We also must be prepared to evolve – part of the problem is that we have not been willing to change before now. We must evolve with the times to make certain that we never again get stuck behind the world we live in. The action and conversations of the Diversity Action Group, as yet, have been overwhelmingly positive and encouraging while looking to the future ahead.  

Also, you may be interested in the most recent edition of ‘The Queen’s Speech’ – a regular newsletter produced by our Prefects – focuses on Black History Month and the aftermath of the Black Lives Matters protest. As this thought-provoking newsletter makes clear, it’s important that the issues raised earlier this summer aren’t forgotten or overlooked, but taken forward. 

With this in mind, in November, all teaching staff attended an inspiring INSET evening, led by Viv Grant, (pictured with Principal, Richard Tillett), a former Headteacher and now Executive Director of Integrity Consulting, a diversity consultancy.  Viv’s session focused on implicit bias and the responsibility all teachers have to be aware of their own prejudices and the importance of their role as educators. She spoke about how teachers are responsible for 'making students become global citizens' and need to take issues of race seriously within the classroom to allow for tangible change.