10 September 2024
Originally featured in the Autumn edition of the BSA Boarding Magazine – you can view the article here.
Diversity and inclusivity at boarding schools has never been more important, with a greater focus being placed on the changing nature of roles and responsibilities.
Commercial nous, assessing and balancing the cyber risks of AI versus its strengths, staying on top of more stringent employment laws, a strong workplace culture, the list goes on, are all essential parts of the modern, highly functioning boarding school. These are all skills that often need to be fulfilled by talent external to the sector.
Operating more like businesses, boarding schools must look further afield for top talent, and the private sector contains a wealth of opportunity.
As in the UK’s private sector, particularly at its top companies, the talent pool for boarding schools is also increasingly a global society. This is an opportunity for schools: an international workforce brings with them a new skill set that can make boarding schools thrive.
Hiring from alternative sources gives the opportunity for greater diversity. As is well-known, greater diversity, of people and of thought, brings competitive advantages. And new thought will likely illuminate areas where diversity is lacking and where there is still work to be done, perhaps significant work.
There’s no benefit to being discouraged at these insights. Rather, it’s important to view equality, diversity, and inclusion as a journey that is always evolving. Schools becoming more diverse, and hiring from a commercial and international pool, will broaden the appeal of one of the UK’s most valuable assets: its education.
Implementing the changes will be a long term investment in the kind of schools we want to see – where people of all backgrounds have equal access to professional opportunities and children have unhindered potential for growth.
To discuss how Anderson Quigley could support you, please contact hayley.mintern@andersonquigley.com.
