William Davis School wins national inclusivity Award
William Davis School in Tower Hamlets has been recognised in a national award for schools that work hardest at promoting understanding and combating prejudice between those of different religions and ethnicities. The Bethnal Green located school has been placed first in the annual Accord Inclusivity Award primary school category and is one of only four schools in total to be recognised this year.
The distinguished judging panel issued first place to William Davis School for its pioneering work promoting peace and resolution, including through embedding restorative principles in its activities. Restorative practices seek to proactively build relationships and a sense of community to prevent conflict and wrongdoing. At William Davis School they underpin the school’s behaviour policy, conduct of its staff, and its curriculum where 'Communication and Experiential Learning' are emphasised.
The school’s embrace of restorative practices has been led by its head teacher, Annika Eadie, whose thinking was enhanced thanks to a scholarship to complete a research project with the Farmington Institute in 2019. The Institute has an ecumenical outlook and takes a particular interest in supporting work that develops good relationships between different world religions.
The research project has led to the school adopting a range of ‘Everyday Peace Indicators’ (EPIs) so it and stakeholders can monitor performance and identify areas for development. EPIs monitor behaviours, relationships, as well as perceptions of equality and inclusivity at the school, and have led to several initiatives and reforms.
The development of the school’s EPIs was preceded in 2019 by it conducting a survey of stakeholders on equalities issues. The equalities survey revealed parental concerns about the impact of inappropriate language and behaviour that young pupils were observing through exposure to media and older siblings. Consequently, the school organised a meeting with local schools, public officials, and religious leaders, where helping children navigate and filter what they see and hear was discussed. Another outcome was the establishment of a Philosophy group involving mothers from different backgrounds meeting to discuss life’s Big Questions.
The school was issued with its trophy during an online presentation assembly this morning by the Chair of both the Accord Coalition and the 2021 Inclusivity Award judging panel, the Revd Stephen Terry. Speaking after the ahead of the presentation, the Revd Stephen Terry said ‘Schools are the state funded institutions that can do most to strengthen integration and cohesion in society. William Davis School excels in maximising this potential, such as through its innovative accountability measures, along with its efforts to promote the resolution of differences and growth of trust. The judging panel is delighted to recognise it as an example for other schools across the country.’
The school head teacher, Annika Eadie, said ‘What a privilege it is to be the head teacher of William Davis Primary School in Tower Hamlets! Schools have a unique opportunity to teach the skills that children, staff and parents need in their day to day lives within the family, the community and beyond. The work with Farmington to develop the use of EPIs and restorative principles in a school community has consolidated my view that it is essential that leaders prioritise the development of relationships and trust.’
‘The international pioneer, Margaret Thorsborne, captures my vision for the school perfectly in her 2013 co-written book Implementing Restorative Practices in Schools. It states that “we’d like you to picture the whole school community committed to the pursuit of best practice in teaching and learning and how that whole pursuit of best practice is vitally connected to the quality of relationships in the classroom and beyond.” Thank you to Accord for the opportunity to celebrate this work.’
Recognised by Ofsted as a project for schools to support their work in advancing their legal equality and cohesion duties, the Accord Inclusivity Award rewards those schools that make special effort to promote inclusion of and mutual understanding between people of different religions and ethnicities. Now in its twelfth year, the annual Award has operated since 2009/10.
Joining Fr Terry on the 2021 judging panel were:
The distinguished judging panel issued first place to William Davis School for its pioneering work promoting peace and resolution, including through embedding restorative principles in its activities. Restorative practices seek to proactively build relationships and a sense of community to prevent conflict and wrongdoing. At William Davis School they underpin the school’s behaviour policy, conduct of its staff, and its curriculum where 'Communication and Experiential Learning' are emphasised.
The school’s embrace of restorative practices has been led by its head teacher, Annika Eadie, whose thinking was enhanced thanks to a scholarship to complete a research project with the Farmington Institute in 2019. The Institute has an ecumenical outlook and takes a particular interest in supporting work that develops good relationships between different world religions.
The research project has led to the school adopting a range of ‘Everyday Peace Indicators’ (EPIs) so it and stakeholders can monitor performance and identify areas for development. EPIs monitor behaviours, relationships, as well as perceptions of equality and inclusivity at the school, and have led to several initiatives and reforms.
The development of the school’s EPIs was preceded in 2019 by it conducting a survey of stakeholders on equalities issues. The equalities survey revealed parental concerns about the impact of inappropriate language and behaviour that young pupils were observing through exposure to media and older siblings. Consequently, the school organised a meeting with local schools, public officials, and religious leaders, where helping children navigate and filter what they see and hear was discussed. Another outcome was the establishment of a Philosophy group involving mothers from different backgrounds meeting to discuss life’s Big Questions.
The school was issued with its trophy during an online presentation assembly this morning by the Chair of both the Accord Coalition and the 2021 Inclusivity Award judging panel, the Revd Stephen Terry. Speaking after the ahead of the presentation, the Revd Stephen Terry said ‘Schools are the state funded institutions that can do most to strengthen integration and cohesion in society. William Davis School excels in maximising this potential, such as through its innovative accountability measures, along with its efforts to promote the resolution of differences and growth of trust. The judging panel is delighted to recognise it as an example for other schools across the country.’
The school head teacher, Annika Eadie, said ‘What a privilege it is to be the head teacher of William Davis Primary School in Tower Hamlets! Schools have a unique opportunity to teach the skills that children, staff and parents need in their day to day lives within the family, the community and beyond. The work with Farmington to develop the use of EPIs and restorative principles in a school community has consolidated my view that it is essential that leaders prioritise the development of relationships and trust.’
‘The international pioneer, Margaret Thorsborne, captures my vision for the school perfectly in her 2013 co-written book Implementing Restorative Practices in Schools. It states that “we’d like you to picture the whole school community committed to the pursuit of best practice in teaching and learning and how that whole pursuit of best practice is vitally connected to the quality of relationships in the classroom and beyond.” Thank you to Accord for the opportunity to celebrate this work.’
Recognised by Ofsted as a project for schools to support their work in advancing their legal equality and cohesion duties, the Accord Inclusivity Award rewards those schools that make special effort to promote inclusion of and mutual understanding between people of different religions and ethnicities. Now in its twelfth year, the annual Award has operated since 2009/10.
Joining Fr Terry on the 2021 judging panel were:
- Yasmin Alibhai-Brown - journalist, author, and Chair of the British Muslims for Secular Democracy
- Professor Tina Beattie - Professor Emerita of Catholic Studies at the University of Roehampton and Director of Catherine of Siena College
- Dr Nuala Burgess - Postdoc Research Fellow, King's College London, campaigner for a socially just education system and Chair of Comprehensive Future
- Professor Graham Handscomb - University College London Visiting Professor, Professor of Education and Dean of The College of Teachers, and Chair of the Free Church Education Committee