School Matters 36

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EQUALITY AT IPS Equality Week in the Spring Term marked the mid- way point in the academic calendar for all that we are doing this year to ensure that our School remains a safe and respectful place for all pupils. Relationships between boys and girls are important not just in a co-educational school but as we go through life. Gender expectations and conforming to harmful stereotypes in how we should behave can have a harmful impact on the way boys and girls, men and women interact. Last year, we started working with a group called Bold Voices which educate young people and raise awareness of the issue of violence against women and girls. They talk about gendered violence as being on a spectrum, from exerting online pressures, to harassing someone in the street and making them feel uncomfortable or afraid, to assault and physical violence. Yosh from Bold Voices is working with all year groups, either through talks, or in workshops. Our pupils have responded constructively to the work that she and the School are doing to ensure that the relationships between our pupils of all genders are supportive and respectful. Five LVI pupils were selected as Bold Voices Student Representatives and have taken part in online sessions, often with other like-minded schools, on how to raise awareness of these issues. We also have a team of Equality Ambassadors, boys and girls, keen to make sure that at IPS our community is a safe place for everyone. In the Autumn Term, posters around school as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and Girls raised awareness and provoked lots of conversations about these issues. The Equality Ambassadors will continue to work with Senior 8 in Bold Voices workshops. Equality Week 2022 kicked off with Friday Night Lights at the Bank of England: a pioneering mixed-gender sports tournament for boys and girls in Senior 7 and 8. In matches of dodgeball, football and handball in mixed-sex teams, pupils played with

“This House believes that beauty pageants are empowering for women”: a motion debated by VI

gave a hard-hitting talk to Senior 9 pupils about the expectations that society places on all of us to conform to often harmful behaviours. We look forward to his follow-up workshop on Empathy. The theme of Equality was taken up with some of our Societies, with ACAAS, the African, Caribbean, Asian and Allies Society [see p.2 – Ed.] discussing how inequalities can affect different groups differently and the Art Department offering support for anyone wishing to enter a poster competition which will produce the artwork for the Equality Charter later this year. The theme of Equality received the usual brilliant support from our Librarian Ms Cleaves, who promoted a fantastic selection of relevant books. It is wonderful to see how many of our pupils avail themselves of the library and devour the books that Ms Cleaves helps them to choose. To round off the week, Dr Hazell organised a VI debate, with the motion “This House believes that beauty pageants are empowering for women”. Unsurprisingly, the Opposition team carried the motion. Mrs Catherine McBride, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

increasing commitment to their team and enthusiasm with each match. Best of all, the night air rang with laughter! The Equality Ambassadors were there to referee and shout support and it was a really fun event that we shall now roll out to other year groups. Speakers during Equality Week included Georgia Bacon, a budding clinical Psychologist, who spoke to the Sixth Form on mental health and gender differences, and Chris Hemmings who

Chris Hemmings