Living Room Series 2: Integration through Education

How we all live together is becoming one of the defining challenges of the 21st century. In a world which can feel increasingly polarised and divided, our Living Room series of three one hour online webinars will explore a particular theme from a range of different perspectives.

Aimed at those who are leading on programmes of work where integration and cohesion are key considerations, each Living Room series will be a forum for peer learning and sharing good practice across different sectors and localities.

Living Room Series 2 will focus on integration through education.

School is the place where young people can develop social skills and meet friends which they often keep for life. However, ethnic and socio-economic segregation in schools is still prevalent in the UK and as such can be a key integration challenge for schools and for local areas.

What can we do to address this? We will hear from school leaders and those who work in partnership with schools on how they are tackling this issue. This seminar series will run in March, see below for more information on topics, speakers, dates and sign up.

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Integration through Education Session One: school linking across difference

The co-director of the Linking Network and former senior school leader Meg Henry along with Azam Ali, an RE teacher in Bradford and Secondary Advisory Teacher for the Linking Network, discuss how the charity works with schools to build integration in local areas, facilitating school linking and supporting schools and teachers in incorporating identity, diversity, community and equality into their curriculum. The Network currently has Schools Linking Programmes in 28 Local Authority Areas, with 30.000 pupils taking part this academic year. What are the key challenges The Linking Network has faced in this work and how have they overcome them? All sessions will have a Q&A where participants can ask further questions.

Speakers: Meg Henry & Linda Cowie, Co-directors of The Linking Network

Wednesday 11th March 1300-1400 

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Integration through Education Session Two: school merging –an innovative case study to overcoming segregation

Alison Taylor, vice principal of Waterhead Academy in Manchester, explores the school’s innovative approach to overcoming ethnic segregation. Formerly two schools which served south Asian and white British communities, Waterhead Academy was formed in 2010 as a merger of both schools. Alison will discuss key ingredients to the success of the merger, and how the school managed the challenges of this complex and sensitive project.

Speaker: Alison Taylor, Vice Principal of Waterhead Academy

Wednesday 18th March Time 1430-1530

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Integration through Education Session Three: empowering young people through effective school partnerships

For this final webinar we will hear from the charity Youth Sports Trust a children’s charity which works with around 20,000 schools in the UK, harnessing the power of sport, physical activity and PE to improve well-being and promote inclusion and integration. Julie Robbins, Head of Inclusion at Youth Sport Trust will discuss how the charity has work closely with schools and community partners in local areas to encourage integration, exploring the different ways in which they have designed programmes that aim to empower young people to lead change in their communities and the challenges they have faced along the way.

Speaker: Julie Robbins, Head of Inclusion for Youth Sports Trust

Wednesday 25th March 1300-1400

 

Chatham House rules will apply. Standard and Advanced Belong members can sign up to the series for free as part of their membership package however there will be a fee charged for Associates and non-members. It is not possible to purchase tickets for individual webinars. 

Deadline for series sign up is March 5th 2020.