Association of Muslim Schools UK INSET Day November 2009

COMMUNITY What does it mean to you? What does it mean in your district? What does it mean to your schools? How could a linking project contribute? What else would you like to see develop? What do you need to do to make all this happen?

FROM A SCHOOLS’ PERSPECTIVE Community can mean: the school itself the community the school serves the whole district the whole country the whole world!

COMMUNITY OF INTEREST Community can also mean other things: Religion Other affiliation A group to which you choose to belong These are not necessarily geographic; the community is united by common vision

DIVERSITY AND COHESION “….we passionately believe that it is the duty of all schools to address issues of ‘how we live together’ and ‘dealing with difference’ however controversial and difficult they might sometimes seem.” Sir Keith Ajegbo Diversity and Citizenship Curriculum Review, February 2007

WITHIN COMMUNITIES …are individuals with unique stories and histories. Identity and Diversity: Living Together in the UK – a 4 th strand of Citizenship To ensure that young people grow up with the skills and knowledge to function in a diverse, complex and mobile society

WHAT CAN SCHOOLS DO? “As a starting point, schools build community cohesion by promoting equality of opportunity and inclusion for different groups of pupils within a school. But alongside this focus on inequalities and strong respect for diversity, they also have a role in promoting shared values and encouraging their pupils to actively engage with others to understand what they all hold in common.”

ALL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES ARE DIFFERENT Each school needs to develop the appropriate approach depending on and reflecting their community/ies. How well do schools know their communities? How well do they use their knowledge? How do they know whether this is effective? Each school needs to consider the different layers and kinds of community they serve. Start small and work outwards! Who am I….

SO WHY SCHOOL LINKING? The Schools Linking Network takes as its starting point the need for us all to develop the skills of dialogue, to be able to communicate across real or perceived boundaries and to develop a vocabulary of shared humanity. In order to do this we have to go back to the young child’s natural curiosity and desire to classify and create order in our world and to work with these behaviours in a healthy and supported way. And to support teachers to develop the skills and confidence to allow this to happen.

AIMS OF SCHOOL LINKING To develop and deepen children and young people’s knowledge and understanding of identity/ies, diversity, equality and community To develop skills of enquiry, critical thinking, reflection and communication To develop trust, empathy, awareness and respect To provide opportunities for children and young people to meet, build new relationships, work together and contribute to the wider community To provide opportunities for adults, who work with children and young people, to share good practice, increase understanding of the issues of identity and community in their districts and to broaden per spectives

PRINCIPLES OF GOOD LINKING Equitable benefits for all partners Safe but challenging processes Meaningful encounters including enjoyment and thought-provoking work Creative approaches Time for reflection between encounters Recognition and respect for diversity Continuing Professional Development for staff Institutional support and Sustainable programmes

EVALUATION Shows us that where these principles are applied, linking breaks down barriers (real or perceived) : “When you understand someone else’s culture, you’re more likely to respect them” (Y12 student quoted in Ajegbo report).....and opens up possibilities for children and young people to explore their lives with confidence…………..

SCHOOLS LINKING NETWORK Building on seven years experience of developing projects, CPD and resources for school linking within the UK. Bradford project started 2002 with 2 schools, now over 100 schools annually. Tower Hamlets since 2006, now 30 LAs currently active Linking 500+ individual schools across the country through the National Gateway. Working within the curriculum to support diversity and active citizenship at different ages, in diverse settings and contexts. Practical support and guidance – we are here to help!

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