Best Practice

Be an ally, not a bystander: Fostering a culture of allyship in schools

In an often divisive society, allyship is a crucial part of inclusion and respect for all. In school, fostering allyship is not just about how we react to specific incidents, it is about building proactive frameworks. Frances Akinde advises
In it together: Fostering allyship in school is not just about how we react to specific incidents, it is about building proactive frameworks - Adobe Stock

As educators, we have a responsibility to not only teach what are seen as “traditional” academic subjects but also to shape the culture of our wider school communities.

This goes beyond policies on paper – it is a living, breathing approach to developing the minds and hearts of our students to be allies and advocates for one another.

“Be an ally, not a bystander” isn’t a slogan – it is a critical approach to combatting bullying and discrimination in our schools, helping students to recognise their power to create positive change and making our schools safer, more inclusive spaces for everyone.

 

Understanding allyship in the school context 

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