The Case for Equality and Inclusion
Many variables impact the experience of meeting participants, and this can have some bearing on impact. Meetings that allow participants to feel that they are able to contribute on an equal footing and have opportunities to become involved in a meaningful way, allow families and students to feel that they have some agency. This in turn will support the work of teachers and other school staff (12). One study found that students who believe they have a voice in school are seven times more likely to be motivated in their studies (13).
Having space in the meeting for student and parent voices can become more than a tick-box exercise, allowing families to contribute to their own progress through the conversations and goal setting happening in meeting spaces.
Creating equitable spaces also gives some thought to the culture and diversity of the communities that form our schools. Some international schools have over 90 nationalities in their student population. Such diversity deserves some attention about how we create a system that respects, honours, and utilises differences for good.
Creating an equitable environment helps students thrive in more ways than one. Schools that have policies and procedures to address equality gaps such as those between genders, students with disabilities or special educational needs or socio-economic background, saw an improvement in pupil outcomes (14).
(12) https://www.pexip.com/blog1.0/what-is-meeting-equity
(13) Quaglia Institute for School Voice and Aspirations. (2016.) School voice report 2016. Retrieved from quagliainstitute.org/dmsView/School_Voice_Report_2016
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