Habs Reflections
Building a Fair and Inclusive Society: The Power of Education
By Jan Shadick, CEO
During our summer holiday, we experienced both the power of unity, at Paris 2024, alongside the impact of division here in the UK. As we return to the new academic year, these two contrasting events give us reason to pause and reflect. They remind us of the fragility of social harmony but also of the importance of education in fostering understanding, empathy, and fairness. Now, more than ever, our role as educators is paramount in shaping a society where every individual is valued, heard, and respected.
The misinformation that fueled the summer riots highlights the challenge we face in today's digital age and the urgent need for our schools to be more than just places of academic learning. They must be spaces where values such as equality, equity and inclusion are reinforced and modelled, and critical thinking is actively cultivated. We want our children and young people to have opinions, but we want them to be informed opinions. Understanding the challenges of our digital age and learning how to discern credible information from misinformation is imperative.
Education is the bedrock upon which a fair and inclusive society is built. At our Trust, we are committed to ensuring that our pupils are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values to navigate and positively contribute to the world around them. We want them to be proud of who they are and to confidently challenge what they know to be wrong so that they can move society forwards constructively and safely.
This year, we are taking purposeful steps to strengthen our commitment to this vision.
Implementing a high-quality curriculum
One of our key priorities is a comprehensive review of our curriculum. We aim to ensure it is broad, balanced and relevant to our students' lives and experiences. We want them to see themselves reflected in what they learn and to feel empowered to challenge injustice wherever they find it. By embedding diverse perspectives and histories into our teaching, we are helping to foster an environment where every child feels seen, heard, and valued. We will be brave in how we do this.
Literacy will continue to be a key focus. We are steadfast in our ambition for all pupils to be confident readers, writers and speakers, particularly our most vulnerable. These skills will be taught, developed and modelled in every classroom, through our Haberdashers’ Advantage programme, and with every interaction.
Each member of staff, regardless of their role within our Trust, understands that they are a teacher of literacy. They accept their responsibility in supporting this focus because it is critically important in helping our students to be successful.
New heights for our Haberdashers’ Advantage programme
We are proud of our Haberdashers’ Advantage, and this year we will be making significant strides as we implement Aspire. This innovative programme promises a dedicated mentor to every one of our Year 12 students. This will be supported by our extensive and experienced Haberdashers' network, which will provide invaluable guidance, connections and a wealth of opportunities. As they prepare to take their next steps, they will be better equipped to navigate their futures with confidence and ambition.
A culture for learning
Creating a culture for learning that goes beyond the classroom is also at the forefront of our efforts. We are cultivating environments where good behaviour, preparedness and willingness to learn are cornerstones of every school day. We will maintain our high expectations but understand that some of our students need support to reach them. This understanding comes from knowing them well.
Our approach is not just about managing behaviour, but about nurturing a culture which enables learning – where every pupil understands what it means to be an excellent learner and engage with it knowing they are supported by excellent teaching, rooted in our four Haberdashers’ teaching and learning principles:
- Ready to learn
- A knowledgeable learner
- A confident communicator
- An independent learner
This is a deeper commitment to our core values, bringing clarity to how these will bring learning to life.
Leaders who care
Our Trust continues to prioritise leadership at every level. We believe that strong leadership is essential for driving a culture of high expectation and ambition. We are developing leaders who care deeply about their communities and who are committed to ensuring that every child receives the highest quality education. This includes not only academic success but also the development of character and resilience, so that our pupils are prepared for whatever the future holds for them.
Stronger parent partnerships
We value our parents and our communities and cannot achieve our ambitions without them. We want to strengthen our collaboration and foster meaningful partnerships with our families. By working together, we can build a cohesive and supportive network around each child.
A place to belong
Finally, we remain committed to developing our culture as an organisation. We have strong strategies which are helping us to move forwards but these alone are not enough. As we look forward to the year ahead, let us be reminded of our shared purpose: to provide every child, regardless of their background, with the opportunities and support to succeed, ensuring they feel they belong. In doing so, we are not only securing their future but also contributing to a fairer, more inclusive society for us all.
Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are stronger.
