We visit a Willenhall primary school where inclusion and diversity are cherished and where pupils and staff are encouraged to develop themselves in all areas
It's a school which holds inclusion, diversity and continual improvement as core principles and looks to make its pupils, staff and the local community better.
Lodge Farm Primary School in Willenhall has a motto of "Caring and Working Together", and a principle of each pupil becoming a 'Lodge Farmer', which means that caring for each other, supporting each other and working together well, so being a Lodge Farmer and the motto go together.
At its heart, Lodge Farm believes that all children should be provided with a wide range of opportunities to develop and grow as an individual and shape their own future and the school works to equip children with the skills, knowledge and self-belief to flourish and seize the opportunities the world offers.
That principle extends to the staff of Lodge Farm as well, with a culture of continuing professional development (CPD) which looks to help teachers and support staff to develop within their roles, as well as look outside of their roles to see where they could go.
The school is part of the SHINE Academies Trust, a forward thinking and growing Trust that is committed to improving the outcomes for all children within its care and approach of educating the whole child, offering a wide range of extra-curricular activities and a Creative Arts, Music and Sports provision.
Deputy head teacher Nyoko Lawrence-Beckles and family services lead Suneeta Jackson are part of the leadership of the school, with Ms Lawrence-Beckles also working closely with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) children and Ms Jackson fronting projects such as the new community shop.
Both spoke about the inclusivity of the school and how the school worked to help pupils understand and embrace these concepts and their role within the community.
Ms Lawrence-Beckles said: "We have a very diverse group of ethnicity at the school, with new arrivals from Italy, Romania and African countries like Nigeria, and while the majority of our students are white British, we are a real melting pot of ethnicity and we really do force the issue of inclusivity.
