Inclusion and Diversity in Education February 2008

1. In the school environment, both pupils and staff should learn to appreciate the differences between religions, cultures and sexual orientation in the school community, even if one’s views clash with others’ beliefs.

2. Young people should have their voices and opinions heard when decisions are being made concerning them, for example by giving student councils an effective and powerful voice; student councils should have an advisory role in schools.

3. Within the school curriculum, students should be given opportunities to learn about cultural diversity.

4. Schools should offer the possibility for pupils to share their experiences and views with the community, promoting better communication and integration.

5. Schools should educate the whole person; to develop them academically, emotionally, physically and morally to achieve their full potential.

6. Schools should provide new ways of teaching and learning to help every young person learn well, for example by having courses taught by specialist practitioners in intercultural learning to enable the students to benefit from their expertise and passion.

7. Schools should give possibilities to a wider range of cultures and religions, including more diverse language learning.

8. Schools should provide mentors to help new students, foreign students or students with special needs to integrate into the community, for example by having extra sessions to help foreign students learn the majority language and preserve their mother tongue, and by ensuring that additional needs of students are catered for through the school environment and within the school curriculum.

9. Schools should provide training to ensure that teachers and support staff are able to deal with student problems and issues in a culturally sensitive way and increase the number of staff from ethnic minority backgrounds.