More than 60 students from eight of our schools came together at King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls on 2nd July for the Summer Term Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Student Committee meeting – the third EDI Student Conference of the academic year.
The event provided an opportunity for students to explore important social issues, hear from senior leaders and contribute ideas for positive change. The conference opened with a presentation from students at the host school, who shared how EDI is championed within their school community and highlighted the importance of creating environments where everyone feels valued and supported.
A key highlight of the day was the opportunity to hear from Department for Education representatives Parminder Garcha, Deputy Director for the West Midlands DfE Region, and Daniel McGrath, Improvement and Transformation Lead for the West Midlands Region Group. They spoke about their professional journeys and the importance of listening to young people’s voices before taking part in an engaging question-and-answer session with students.
Students explored a range of topics affecting young people today, including democracy and political engagement, financial education and life skills, and what schools can do to help every student feel a sense of belonging. Delegates shared ideas, perspectives and practical suggestions on how schools can better prepare young people for the future while fostering inclusive communities.
In the second part of the conference, students took part in a real-world policy exercise titled ‘Creating a Birmingham Plan’. Using Department for Education data, groups identified strengths, challenges and opportunities linked to EDI themes before developing recommendations and solutions. The ideas generated will be shared with the DfE representatives for further consideration.
The conference concluded with thanks to all attendees, organisers and contributors, bringing to a close another successful year of EDI Student Committee meetings. By giving young people a platform to share their views and engage with decision-makers, our schools continue to empower students to help shape more inclusive schools and communities for the future.
