The Accord Coalition has announced a prestigious panel of judges for the 2016 Inclusivity Award. Now in its seventh year, the award is open to all schools, and seeks to recognise the achievements of those that do most to promote an ethos of inclusion, community cohesion, and the growth of mutual understanding, particularly on the grounds of religion and philosophical belief.
Joining the Chair of the Accord Coalition, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain MBE, on the panel this coming year will be:
- Neil Carmichael MP, Chair of House of Commons Education Select Committee
- Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Chancellor of the University of Northampton
- Sir Anthony Seldon,author and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham
- Professor Linda Woodhead, national Sociology of Religion expert based at Lancaster University
Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, said ‘The judges come from a wide range of backgrounds and are all respected experts in their field. Their willingness to donate their time is very much appreciated and reflects well on the reputation in which the Award is held.’
The 2015 Award was won by the Walthamstow Academy, a Christian ethos school in North East London, which won high praise for its inclusive approach in its curriculum, admissions and employment policies. In second place came Brinsworth Comprehensive School in South Yorkshire. Aspects of its work commended by the judges included its seating policy, which ensured ethnic mixing at every learning situation; its monitoring of racist incidents and bullying; the extent of its exploration of community cohesion in Religious Education, as well as its teaching of civic values and the basics of the legal system.
Past winners have all received coverage for their success in national and local press. The 2016 winners are being given a cash prize: £500 for first place; £250 for second and £100 for third. The deadline for entries is Sunday December 13th and the outcome will be announced in the New Year.
Please contact Paul Pettinger at paul@accordcoalition.org.uk or on 020 7324 3071 with any queries, and visit https://accordcoalition.org.uk/accord-award-2016/ for more details and an application pack.
