Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust (HMAT)
HMAT
The Trust comprises Hasmonean High School for Boys and Hasmonean High School for Girls, both of which are centres of educational excellence serving the Orthodox Jewish Community of North-West London.
Business challenge
HMAT faced the challenge of nurturing an inclusive environment where biases were acknowledged, confronted, and replaced with intentional inclusivity. The objective was to empower a diverse group of over 250 staff members to become aware of their biases, equip them with practical strategies to manage these biases, and inspire them to foster an inclusive atmosphere.
Approach
In Diverse Company responded with a meticulously designed in-person Conscious Inclusion training session, expertly crafted to engage and enlighten participants. The session spanned 60 minutes, employing a blend of innovative learning techniques:
- Case Studies: Real-world scenarios provided valuable context for participants to explore bias and inclusion.
- Research and Data Reflective Exercises: Interactive exercises drew on empirical data to prompt self-reflection and critical thinking.
- Storytelling: Compelling narratives fostered empathy and understanding.
- Discussion: Open dialogues encouraged participants to share insights and perspectives.
At the culmination of the training, attendees were encouraged to make a personal commitment—a habit they would consciously practice to effect lasting behavioural change. To support their journey, they were furnished with reference materials, ensuring that their commitment to inclusive behaviours was underpinned by knowledge and guidance.
Results
The impact of this transformative initiative was resounding. Following the training:
- Heightened Appreciation for ED&I: Every staff member exhibited a profound increase in their appreciation of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I), recognising its pivotal role in their professional and personal lives.
- Will to Learn and Grow: A spirit of continuous learning and growth emerged, with participants expressing a genuine eagerness to delve deeper into the subject of ED&I and apply their newfound insights in their interactions with colleagues and students.
The partnership between In Diverse Company and HMAT stands as a testament to the power of conscious inclusion in shaping diverse educational environments. Through tailored training, introspection, and an unwavering commitment to positive change, HMAT and its dedicated staff have taken a significant stride towards fostering a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape.
About the company:
HMAT students attain consistently high standards in their GCSE, BTEC and A Level examinations. The vast majority of our graduates proceed to study in world-class yeshivas and seminaries, before pursuing university education and a wide variety of careers.
Increased awareness about unconscious bias
All the participants committed to an inclusive habit
Story & quotes:
A White participant, for the very first time in her life, called out an act of racism that she witnessed outside the workplace. She felt that she was more equipped to do so after the session and felt confident in supporting the victim. Though she was extremely uncomfortable doing so, she did it and that was her starting point in this journey she plans to continue.
Maria was discussing how frontline workers, from marginalised backgrounds, were being targeted for racial abuse by the public. She said that this was an ongoing problem, where an elderly white woman refused to be served by anyone of colour, and Maria’s manager assisted the woman to be served by a white person instead of addressing the racism that his colleagues were being subjected to. Maria’s manager, a white man, was asked to intervene repeatedly but instead allowed the abuse from the customer to continue. Post the ARLO sessions, Maria felt emboldened by the content, and the fact that everyone had been on the course; she spoke to senior leadership above her manager, and they have decided to ban the elderly white woman from the building.
Next Steps
Following the project, a comprehensive report was published and can be accessed here.
“The feedback received from all the staff members was extremely positive. They found the training engaging and informative. We will definitely work with In Diverse Company for some follow-up diversity training on our next inset day” – Sharmin Bokhari, HR Manager
