PIONEER SECONDARY ACADEMY
Pioneer Secondary Academy (PSA) is a new school which opened on 1st May 2022 by the Sikh Academies Trust (SAT).
It is a Sikh faith school based in Stoke Poges, South Buckinghamshire, England.
“TEACHING DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY TO OUR STUDENTS WILL HELP INSTIL OUR RAISE (RESPECT, ASPIRE, INTEGRITY, SEVA AND EQUALITY) VALUES THAT WILL SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH THROUGHOUT THEIR YOUNGER YEARS AND INTO ADULT LIFE.”
GEC Platform Context
The school signed up for three year’s membership and completed the assessments initially to understand internal attitudes and values towards diversity and inclusion. They are now focusing on student, staff and parent engagement and education.
GEC+
As an extension of the GEC Membership for his staff review, Mr Sahota was keen to bring in the Global Equality Collective to support improved student attitudes and outcomes for anti-racism, toxic masculinity, online safety and career aspirations.
As a result, GEC+ (which offered a hybrid ‘GEC Takeover’ bringing the Collective to the school for a series of workshops and webinars, after they had completed their GEC benchmarking) was delivered in July 2022.
This was for all students from Years 7 to 12 to Pioneer Secondary Academy - the first of its kind.
The next GEC+ at Pioneer Secondary Academy was in February 2023 focusing on ‘Tate and Radical Misogyny’.
This initial GEC+ offer included two days of personalised content based on the school’s assessment data and brought in several GEC Collective members to work directly with students and staff. :
1. Dr Holly Powell-Jones, Founder of Online Media Law UK with dynamic workshops on crime and social media law.
2. Matt Pinkett, author of Boys Don’t Try on discussing toxic masculinity (what it is, etc), and then focusing on three key areas of improvement:
Calling other guys out on their toxic behaviours
Becoming better listeners
Representation
3. Andrew ‘Bernie’ Bernard on his book, ‘Build The Ladder’ - discussing career progression and how his journey impacted on his choices.
4. Michaela Lawson, founder of The Prosperity Project, anti-racism training for students. Including identity discussion and racial markers, perceptions of racism - interpersonally but also institutionally, and ‘everyday racism’.
STAFF COMMENTS ON THE ‘GEC TAKEOVER’ INCLUDED:
“Highly important - very engaging. Response is excellent!”
Femi Awosile, Teacher of Science and Maths
“I have never seen the students get so involved in discussion. I am so glad they were open and ready to have these difficult conversations”
Sanaa Harb, Head of Learning (Years 7 & 8)
”I would highly recommend the GEC and their team for #student workshops and staff #cpd. It's really important to have those deeper conversations lead by experts in our field. An assembly or PSHE lesson barely scratches the surface in comparison!”
GEC COLLECTIVE COMMENTS ON THE DAY INCLUDED:
“Even the youngest students impressed me with how they were able to engage in thoughtful discussions on complex issues like law, crime and consent in a digital context. I think we had a few budding criminologists in the room, judging by the excellent questions they asked! All schools should follow this example and take a proactive Platformroach to open conversations with pupils about the risks of social media.”
Dr Holly Powell-Jones, Founder of Online Media Law UK
“Buzzing to have taken part in today’s sessions with students talking about race and antiracism. It’s witnessing those “lightbulb moments” that inspires us to believe students can change the future!”
Michaela Lawson. Founder of The Prosperity Project
“BY TEACHING THESE TOPICS EACH STUDENT NOW HAS ACCESS TO A SAFE PLACE TO QUESTION, DISCUSS, EXPLORE, AND FORM THEIR VALUES AND OPINIONS. WORKING WITH THE GEC HAS ALLOWED US TO CHALLENGE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES AND STEREOTYPES WHILST PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS WITH A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF AN EVOLVING SOCIETY WE LIVE IN.”
Mr. Harmeet Sahota, Headteacher, Pioneer Secondary Academy