Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Week featured a collection of thought provoking and exciting immersive workshops followed by our annual vibrant festival ‘Suttonbury’. We welcomed Phosphoros Theatre, who amplify refugee voices, neurodivergent author Lucas Maxwell and Carnegie-nominated writer Tasneem Abdul-Rasid. Parents of students also led a Korean cooking and Arabic Calligraphy Workshop.
Year 7 students participated in an Eritrean cultural singing and language workshop led by Milcah, our Sixth Form music scholar and a K-Pop dance lesson taught by Tania & Hanni in Year 10. Year 9 students attended an ‘Active Bystander’ session with Sutton Women’s Centre. There were also group activities inspired by Sustainability and Women in Engineering Day. During the closing ceremony at Suttonbury, Maya (Year 9) gave a moving speech on “A New Day” focusing on kindness and making a difference.
Two Year 8 students have written short reports on their experiences during the week.
“EDI Week was an enjoyable and educational experience that celebrated equality, diversity, and inclusion through a range of exciting activities. It gave students the opportunity to learn about different cultures, try new experiences, and understand the importance of respecting different backgrounds and perspectives.
One of the highlights of the week was the immersive workshops. I took part in Manga, Go, and Capoeira, and each activity was interesting in its own way. In the Manga workshop, we explored Japanese art and storytelling, learning how manga uses drawings to express emotions, action, and character development. In the Go workshop, we learned how to play a traditional strategy board game, which required concentration, patience, and careful planning. Capoeira was one of the most exciting workshops because it combined martial arts, dance, and music from Brazilian culture, making it both energetic and fun.
Another memorable part of EDI Week was celebrating Women in Engineering Day, where we made a wand using magnets. This hands-on activity helped us understand magnetic forces in a creative and practical way, making science enjoyable and interactive.
Suttonbury was also one of the best parts of the week. It felt like a festival, with different stalls, performances, pride flags, and face painting that created a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. There were performances from bands and individual students, celebrating different talents across the school. I performed as part of a band with Maya, Riya, Nikitha and Bethan, who are all in Year 7, and Imogen, who is in Year 9, and I also performed as a solo artist. Performing in front of others helped build my confidence and made the experience especially memorable.
Overall, EDI Week was a great success because it brought everyone together and helped us appreciate different cultures, talents, and perspectives. It showed how diversity makes our school community stronger and more inclusive.”
– Isabella G (Year 8)
“EDI week has been an exciting, fun, and adventurous week for everyone at Sutton High. We started with the collaborative immersive workshops, which I personally found incredibly fun and interesting. It promoted inclusivity and diversity by allowing us to learn about different cultures and people’s passions. It was especially exciting to learn about it from someone outside of school who wants to teach it to us making it more enjoyable. My favourite activity was Korean cooking because it was great to try something new to eat and I found it delicious.
The next day we had the Women in Engineering activity morning, which was slightly awkward at first but as the day went on, we got to know our groups, and it became a fun activity. Making the wands was tough but we used our various innovative ideas to make a successful one in the end. We also had a yoga session which was tranquil and relaxing. In the afternoon we had Suttonbury and although the heat was not great, it was still a wonderful time, with different diverse activities to show culture and the theme of a new day. There were some fabulous performances, shout out to Safia who had my personal favourite which was her singing and some lovely dances and bands performing. Overall, I believe Suttonbury was a tremendous success, and I am looking forward to next year already.”
– Shyla (Year 8)
