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Diversity and Inclusion
At Wimbledon High School we are actively trying to continue to build a diverse and inclusive school culture. We are committed to the GDST Undivided Charter for Action.
In May 2024 we hosted our fourth annual admissions event to build on diversity and inclusion here at school, and to encourage families of all heritages and backgrounds to apply for their daughters.
Pastorally, our diversity calendar has expanded, to ensure that we celebrate differences in race and heritage, marking a range of religious festivals and cultural events. Special menus and pop-up food stalls enhance the experience and, as you can imagine, are extremely popular!
Academically, we have scrutinised our curriculum and broadened it, to include more BAME voices, writings and experiences, within English, History and Music, with more to follow. We would love to see change in the national curriculum itself.
Head Fionnuala Kennedy said: "At Wimbledon High, we have always promoted a culture of acceptance, tolerance and respect. We embrace differences – visible and hidden – and want each student to feel valued, heard and able to express their sense of self. We believe that we must be candid and able to express and listen to difficult or uncomfortable opinions in order to make progress. An undivided community is a community which allows its members to speak up, and which learns to hear the experiences and feelings of others with empathy and understanding. We do not want to be the same as each other – we are unique individuals – but we do want to be united in our sense of mutual respect."
We launched our Civil Discourse programme into the curriculum (Years 7 - 13) in September 2021, encompassing a new approach to listening, debate and student voice, around this important issue as well as other critical issues: the environment, women’s rights, equality for the LGBT community and for those with neurodiversity and disabilities. Mandu Reid, leader of the British Women's Equality Party, contacted the school when she heard of our Civil Discourse initiative and has since visited us for a Q&A session with students and Fionnuala Kennedy. We have in recent years been privileged to be addressed by other inspirational speakers, such as Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, Gina Miller, Afua Hirsch.