In the ever-evolving landscape of education, addressing the needs of marginalised and migrant communities presents unique challenges. Schools across the Thomas Deacon Education Trust (TDET) have identified the importance of specialised support and genuine dedication in fostering equality, diversity, and integration.
Over the past five years, Queen Katharine Academy (QKA) has embarked on a transformative journey by partnering with Compas, a charity committed to promoting equality, diversity, and the integration of marginalized communities into British society. The cornerstone of this partnership has been the creation of the ROGA (Roma of Greater Ability) programme.
Led by Compas professionals, ROGA aims to provide Roma students with essential role models from their own community who have triumphed over adversity. Through a multi-faceted approach, including inspiring talks, university tours, and career exploration, the programme aims to be holistic - addressing not only academic challenges but also social and cultural barriers.
Helena Ground, International Lead and Spanish Teacher, said: “Our ROGA initiative has been so successful that we have since introduced the Roma Leaders programme. This identifies exceptional students who have completed the ROGA programme and demonstrate the potential to become positive role models for their peers.”
Katherine Bangurah, International Projects Co-ordinator, explained: “Roma Leaders participate in events, share their experiences with primary school pupils, and play a pivotal role in organising the International Roma Day celebration; a vibrant annual community gathering.”
The partnership's impact has developed beyond the classroom walls, with community workers in place to act as liaisons between families and the academy. These community workers bridge any cultural and communication gaps to ensure that family needs are met and understood, and teachers are aware of the context of each student's upbringing.
QKA staff have also embarked on visits to Roma settlements in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, gaining first-hand knowledge of the challenges students faced. With this insight, QKA makes every effort through its curriculum to address gaps in literacy and language proficiency, so that every student can thrive.
The partnership between QKA and Compas exemplifies true collaboration, with both entities contributing resources, materials, and support to amplify their impact. The success of the partnership extends beyond QKA, where other schools, including Gladstone Primary Academy, another member of TDET, have been inspired to embrace a similar approach - sparking a movement of positive change within the educational landscape.
Petr Torak MBE, Chief Executive Officer of Compas Charity said: “The partnership with TDET, and in particular with QKA, has been an enriching opportunity for our organisation and staff. It has enabled us to implement an idea that started in 2013 as a small community project and to improve it by having dedicated colleagues from QKA on board. The project is going from strength to strength and the methodology has been now shared with over 25 schools in 4 different countries. We are very grateful to QKA for this opportunity and support.”