Equality Statement

In the last year, we have been deeply concerned at historical allegations of racist and sexually abusive behaviour by students while they were at Cranbrook School. These allegations emerged from the national dialogue generated by the Black Lives Matter movement and testimonies on the website Everyone’s Invited. As a community whose first core value is Respect, we condemn wholly the behaviour and attitudes alleged and are determined to challenge them together. We are a proudly inclusive and supportive school and insist that kindness and decency is shown to all, regardless of race, gender, disability or age.  Cranbrook prides itself on its education for character and on its tradition of producing rounded and grounded citizens of the world. We celebrate our own diversity, stemming from the rich boarding traditions of the school. We are not complacent and recognize our own shortcomings and those of others in society. Consequently, we have begun to re-evaluate our approaches to equality, diversity, and relationships and sex education (RSE).

Equality and diversity

Our Equality Information and Objectives statement was written in Summer 2020 and is reviewed annually by Governors. This makes clear our aims in promoting equality and defending diversity.

Relationships and Sex Education

From March 2021, we have been reviewing the way we teach about respectful relationships and sex. The guiding principles behind the review are to:

• Continue to teach students about consent and respectful relationships in the PSHE curriculum up to Year 11 in a manner that fosters discussion and gives practical advice on consent.
• Consider how this can be formally continued in the Sixth Form.
• Review our curricular RSE Policy. We invited students, parents and Old Cranbrookians to feed into this process.
• Ensure that we have a range of effective reporting systems and pastoral support in place for victims of sexual assault or harassment.
• Ensure that our Behaviour Policy and practice reflect a zero-tolerance approach to misogynistic and abusive behaviour and encourage students to challenge it.
• Educate staff so that all teachers feel confident to discuss these issues with students.
• Educate parents so that all families feel confident to do the same. Sex education is most effective in partnership between school and home.
• Invite visiting speakers to bring fresh views to the entire Cranbrook School community of children, parents and staff.

We will continue to listen to our students, alumni and staff and will be working with them to ensure positive change is sustained. The School has a designated member of staff for monitoring equality and respect issues, Mandy Smart (smartm@cranbrook.kent.sch.uk), and an equality link governor, Nick Addyman (addymann@cranbrook.kent.sch.uk). Please feel free to make contact.

Mr Will Chuter

Head

3^rd May 2021