Written by: Antonia Spinks
Earlier this academic year, I had the privilege to lead the assemblies in all three schools in our family on our core value of driving equality. This was an opportunity for my co-leader, Mr Neighbour, and I to make a public commitment to making organisational changes that would drive equality even further, champion and celebrate our diversity and promote and embed inclusion throughout Pioneer Educational Trust.
Throughout this academic year, our senior leaders will all be writing a blog for our new website on the theme of ‘driving equality’ and what it means to them. This is a theme that touches us all personally and I know that we will be presented with honest, raw and thought-provoking narratives from our valued colleagues.
I am passionate about this as a woman. I am passionate about this as the granddaughter of an immigrant. And I am passionate about this as a mother and a teacher who wants a better world for my children and the children in our schools.
Like all of us, I am the product of what has gone before; I have been influenced by my ancestors and their experiences. In particular, two strong women whose experiences have informed who I am and what I fight for.
Some of the echoes that we bring with us from our ancestors boom loudly. Others keep reverberating subtly barely noticeable until it is their time to resonate deafeningly. And so it has been for me over the years.
I am an ardent feminist and there is no doubt that that aspect of my being has been influenced by my mother. On a daily basis, as I was growing up, I was hungrily fed examples of brilliant, courageous women. On a daily basis, I felt my mother’s anger and dissatisfaction that women were (and are) not treated equally in our society. On a daily basis, I was encouraged to push myself to stand up and use my voice. All of this has influenced the way I have led and taught over the past twenty years. I wear this aspect of my being like a badge for all the world to see.
Conversely, it is only over the past year or so that I have begun to engage more with the quiet backdrop of my mother’s mother’s influence. It is clear through the places I have chosen to live and the schools in which I have chosen to work that I have always been drawn to places where there is a rich multi-cultural community but it is only recently that I have begun to reflect on where this may have come from.
My maternal grandmother was born and grew up in Egypt as a member of the Egyptian Jewish community in Cairo in the first half of the 20th century. During the Second World War, she met my English grandfather in Cairo, and they went on to marry at the end of the war before relocating back to this country. My grandmother told me stories of her experiences when first in this country and the xenophobia and racism that she faced during this time, including from my grandfather’s family. This led to a split between my grandfather and his family none of whom I have ever met.
I have realised that this is a part of my (hi)story that I have long neglected, long hidden and long marginalised. But now, I am proud to say that I am the granddaughter of an immigrant and recognise the profound impact that this has had and continues to have on who I am and how I lead. In driving equality at Pioneer, we seek to champion the vulnerable and disadvantaged and, for me, that includes those who have been displaced. I thrive when celebrating the rich cultural diversity of the communities that we serve and believe that we are stronger when we learn and educate ourselves about the vibrant cultures that we collectively represent.
As an individual, I have, in my family history, experience of the profound impact that racism has and, as an organisation, Pioneer recognises the deep and profound impact that racism and other forms of prejudicial attitudes and behaviours have had on our children and their families, and our valued colleagues. We recognise the urgent need for us all to listen, learn and take collective action to address inequalities in our community and society.
We have, this year, embarked on a journey to drive equality, celebrate our diversity and embed inclusion throughout our organisation. This work will permeate all aspects of our community and we are both optimistic and determined to bring about systemic change within and beyond our family of schools. This year will be focus on raising consciousness, on educating ourselves and determining where this work will take up. This year will focus on the co-creation of a strategy and initiatives that will bring about positive and lasting change. This year will focus on enlisting all pupils, parents, colleagues and the community as a volunteer army ready to fight against prejudice and intolerance.
In our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion statement on our website, we have pledged to amplify our voices and not create a culture of silence. Publicly declaring here how proud I am of my powerful lineage, I hope will give others in our community the courage and the agency to amplify their own voice, to sing of their proud traditions and cultures and speak up to challenge any prejudiced and discriminatory attitudes and behaviours.
In being a good ancestor, I pledge to work collaboratively, democratically and compassionately with our community to create a fairer, more equal and just society.