Black History Month

Black History Month at WGS

Students at Wolverhampton Grammar School have been honouring Black History Month this October through a variety of activities. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is far from a one-off discussion amongst our wonderfully diverse student body, that is 41% Asian, 30% white, 9% mixed, 8% black and 12% other ethnicities or unknown. 

Our staff and students wholeheartedly embrace our diverse community and conversations regularly take place along the topics of belonging, mutual respect and tolerance. Earlier this year we conducted a Belonging Survey to find out how our students felt and what they wanted from the WGS community. This led to students developing their own values statement to celebrate their community:

“WGS is an inspiring and inclusive community built on respect, individuality, equity and kindness."

A group of students known as ‘Diversity Champions’ regularly work with staff to give a voice to the different groups within their very diverse community. This month they have been honouring Black History Month and the theme ‘Celebrating our Sisters’. WGS students have selected former students as well as public figures who they see to be strong, Black female role models. Head of Wellbeing, Mrs Keeley, has been sparking the debate further with Wellbeing lessons on anti-racism and anti-discrimination looking at the findings behind the highly publicised murder of Stephen Lawrence as a result of a racist attack in 1993 in London. This was ahead of a visit to Wolverhampton Grammar School by Stephen’s brother, the Right Honourable Stuart Lawrence.

Stuart has been appointed Patron of the Black Curriculum, and his main goal is to equip young people with the mindset to believe and achieve what they want in life no matter the challenges many of them may face due to factors including ethnicity and religion. Through knowledge, self-worth, determination and unity, Stuart believes our young people of today have the power to push for change within our society.

Stuart spent the morning speaking to students in Years 7 - 10, encouraging them to be the best version of themselves, and in the afternoon, our Diversity Champions had the privilege of interviewing Stuart and discussing the legacy they want to leave behind at WGS to ensure their progress, like Stuart’s, lasts a lifetime.

In the afternoon, we welcomed over 100 children from five local state schools to hear Stuart speak about his latest book, Growing Up Black in Britain, as well as his earlier title, Silence is Not An Option.

Speaking of his time with our students, Stuart said:

“If I can help them navigate this difficult world and try not to listen too much to the noise outside, then they can really start from a good platform. If we can listen, then we can develop a greater sense of empathy – discover what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes and alter our own mindsets to become better people.”

Stuart Lawrence

Other Black History Month activities at WGS included a themed lunch with Nigerian Beef Stew and Jollof Rice, provided by the Holroyd Howe catering team, and inspirational and informative assemblies delivered by Sixth Form students Favour, David, and Kyla.