Equality, diversity, and inclusion were the topics of discussion at the Church School Leaders’ Day held at Epiphany House.

Organised by the diocese’s education department, the event brought together head teachers and others with four organisations from Cornwall and beyond working to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion in Cornwall.

Speakers on the day were Joyte Brown from Black Voices Cornwall, Clair Kitching, Schools Partnerships Lead from The Archbishops’ Young Leaders Award, Matthew Kenworthy Gomes from Cornwall Pride and Natalie Parr, Equality Diversity and Inclusion Lead at Kernow Learning MAT.

Posting on Facebook after the event, Black Voices Cornwall, said: “We had the absolute pleasure to speak about inclusive classrooms at the Truro Diocese Senior School Leaders Day: Thank you to all who attended for demonstrating your open commitment to anti-racism and inclusion, for being such kind hosts and for sharing your innovative approaches to supporting the next generation of courageous allies. We look forward to working with you again in future.”

Lee Moscato, Diocesan Director of Education, said: “It was so exciting to bring our school and trust leaders together at Epiphany House as we ‘signposted, connected and turned up the volume’.

“We signposted to where there are others and resources who can support us.  We connected with each other and organisations who will speak into our work in this area and we turned up the volume – raised awareness and shone a light on this work.

“Most excitingly, we saw two of our strategic commitments in action – joining the DoTS and forming powerful partnerships!”

Following informal conversation over cream teas, each attendee was gifted a copy of “Beyond Tokenism: A Christian Vision for Embracing Racial Diversity in Our Schools” to take away with them along with an Eco Schools activity pack with wildlife friendly flower seeds created by Clare Green, the Schools’ Creation Care Officer.