St Katherine's celebrates Pride

On Thursday 30th June, St Katherine's School celebrated the first ever Pride March within a school setting. Over 260 students and staff listened to keynote speakers from the student body and a brilliantly informative and heart warming speech from one of our physics teachers, Ms Ardell. Students and staff, fuelled by the incredible speeches, then marched around the school site adorned in rainbow and waving an aptly diverse range of pride flags. The afternoon was finished off with Pride anthems being blasted out on the top field, filling the attendants with a strong sense of community and Pride.

Students were able to bring in their own pride flags, badges and other accessories to wear in the afternoon. Some of the students were given 'Ask Me a Question' stickers for those who wanted to learn more about the community, the event or general advice from those within the LGBTQ+ community. Many staff within the LGBTQ+ community have commented on how successful and heartwarming it was to be able to host an event like this at a school, as many of us grew up under Section 28 and the hangover period since its eradication in 2003. To be able to be yourself and celebrate your identity with friends and the wider school community is something that should be cherished. We hope this event continues alongside our wider work on inclusion within the school, and grows year on year.

A massive thank you to Mrs Skeates, Ms Jefferson, Mr James, Ms Collett and the aforementioned Ms Ardell for all of the incredible work for the LGBTQ+ community this year.