Championing Diversity Equity and Inclusion

At Orion, we aim to create warm and welcoming schools for the local community, where every person belongs, thrives, makes excellent progress and succeeds.  We believe that people thrive when they feel welcome, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. That is why  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)  is so important to everything we do. We are committed to creating an environment where staff and students, regardless of their background, identity, or experience, can feel a sense of belonging and contribute meaningfully. 

The theme of our all staff conference in October 2022 was “Belonging”, which started our DEI activity.  Since then we are making progress through work in the following areas: 

Creating inclusive workplaces:  We foster a strong culture of respect, understanding, and collaboration where everyone feels safe to bring their authentic selves to work and learn. This includes celebrating diverse perspectives, providing training, and enabling flexible working arrangements where feasible. 

Building belonging for all:  We actively welcome and support students and staff from all walks of life. We create opportunities for connection and interaction across different backgrounds, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. 

Building representation in the curriculum:  We ensure that our curriculum reflects the richness and complexity of our world, showcasing diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences. This allows students to see themselves reflected in what they learn, which helps them to develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. 

Ensuring inclusive and equitable policies, processes, and practices:  We regularly review and revise our policies and procedures to ensure they are fair, accessible, and inclusive for everyone. We actively seek feedback from stakeholders. 

Recruiting, developing, and retaining diverse talent:  We are committed to building a workforce that better reflects the communities we serve. We are creating a talent pool, providing equitable career development opportunities, and nurturing an inclusive workplace culture that attracts and retains top talent. 

Committing to CPD for staff:  We invest in ongoing professional development for our staff on DE&I best practices. This ensures that everyone is equipped with the knowledge and skills to create and maintain an inclusive learning environment. 

Listening to stakeholder views:  We believe that meaningful DE&I requires ongoing dialogue and collaboration. We have sought feedback from students, staff, and parents, through Edurio surveys and small group conversations.  

Using data to inform the strategy:  We have gathered data to create a baseline, and will track data over time to understand our staff and student community. We will review the progress of our DE&I initiatives and identify areas for development in order to keep improving.