The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

Equality

Sarah Soyei

Getting equality and diversity right in schools

A whole school approach to equality can increase attainment, improve behaviour and ensure that everyone feels safe and able to succeed. Sarah Soyei outlines four ways to make your school more inclusive. Senior leaders and teachers are under increasing pressure, with numerous demands on people’s...
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Charlie Roden

Quiz: how sexist is your school?

Does your school have a whole-school approach to challenging gender stereotypes? Take our quiz to find out. Gender inequality permeates many areas of British society, and schools are no exception to this. A particular issue in schools is the gender imbalance in subjects such as science, technology...
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Dr Karamat Iqbal

Whatever happened to equalities?

What have changes to government policies meant for equalities? Dr Karamat Iqbal looks at racism in schools, and the steps that need to be taken to achieve equality. In the post-war education system, there have been a variety of education policy approaches to equalities. It is an area that is...
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Elizabeth Holmes

Education is for everyone

If schools aren't working to help all children succeed, what else can they do? Elizabeth Holmes caught up with Debra Kidd to discuss the systemic problem of poor social mobility. Despite various attempts over the decades to address the inequalities that leave a blight on our society, social...
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Elizabeth Holmes

Championing diversity and equality in these challenging times

In these turbulent times, schools must ensure that their commitment to equality and diversity shines through. 'It’s never too late to give up your prejudices.' ~ Henry David Thoreau As with our communities, our schools are diverse. Diversity is not abstract in any way. It is simply a reflection of...
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Andrew Moffat

From schools to supermarkets: there are no outsiders!

In these unkind times, it's important to champion an inclusive, 'no outsiders' ethos. Real-world examples offer great opportunities to get pupils thinking about diversity. This week I delivered an assembly to Year 4 and 5 pupils on a branch of Tesco in Scotland. The Moray branch is working with...
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Elizabeth Holmes

Spotlight on #WomenEd

Is #WomenEd, a growing grassroots movement for women aspiring to school leadership, a force for good in education's current climate? I caught up with Jules Daulby to find out more. Elizabeth Holmes : What is #WomenEd? Jules Daulby : #WomenEd is a grassroots movement which connects existing and...
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Andrew Moffat

My top 5 equality picture books for primary

To prepare children for life in modern Britain, schools need to teach equality, including LGBT equality. Andrew Moffat lists 5 books he’s used to explore differences and sexual orientation with primary school pupils. As they grow up, children will meet people who identify as LGBT and some will grow...
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Andrew Moffat

'No Outsiders In Our School' - using assemblies to create a school ethos of acceptance

Dark trends and tragic events make the teaching of LGBT equality even more essential. Andrew Moffat explains how assemblies can be a useful platform. Why give an assembly? Assemblies are a great tool to use when creating the school ethos around equality. The assembly is a place where the code of...
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Gareth D Morewood

‘They said we couldn’t do it’ – a celebration of 25 years of Disability Equality in the Classroom

I have always been influenced by powerful messages and none more so than those in the book Incurably Human by Micheline Mason . Last weekend I was not only able to meet Micheline personally, but was also fortunate to deliver a keynote address at the event marking 25 years of a struggle for equality...
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