The last few weeks have seen our students and staff take part in a variety of activities around the school to absorb the stories of Black women in particular during Black History Month. As well as assemblies for each year group discussing the theme of ‘Saluting our Sisters’, our students were invited to taste foods from the African-Caribbean cuisine while watching a thought-provoking TV series discussing themes including identity, class and growing up as an African-American. On one of the lunchtimes, with the help of Miss Hammond and Mr Blankson-Hemans, our student helpers serve traditionally-cooked African plantain with various topping options for the students to sample while discussing the themes raised in the viewing.

The Art department held an activity where they used inspiration from West African Adrinka symbols painted onto our seating under the canopy in the courtyard. These symbols are visual representations of proverbs with significant historical and philosophical meanings representing qualities such as hard work, unity in diversity, friendship and high standards. These are all qualities as a school that we aim at strenghtening within ourselves and tie in perfectly with the KWS values. Attached are pictures showing the art leaders hard at work.

As well as this, the Library held a “Listening Party” one lunchtime to over 50 students who went through a musical journey looking at the contributions by Black artists towards the British music scene and how music changed on the British landscape with these contributions based on happenings within politics and much more – this was an eye-opening event for me personally as I often hear these songs not knowing the landscape in which they rose from and the challenges attached to them.

The History department held a House competition to all students where they chose which minoritised ethnic group figure in History they would like to learn about. The runners up with 50 house points were: Isabelle S 7A, Shona E 9F and Shakhram S 11K. The winner with 100 house points was Florence C 9K. Well done, all!

It’s been a pleasure organising my first Black History Month at KWS and it has been a learning opportunity for myself and students, specifically when it comes to the contributions made across the fields of Business, Engineering, the Arts and politics by Black women to create a more cultivated society for us all. With the school’s focus currently on Remembrance Day, I am preparing for our Diwali Celebrations next week which I look forward to sharing with everyone.

Miss Annie

KWS Transition and EDI Lead