Being seen can make kids shine
A PRIMARY school’s award-winning storybook project is tackling the lack of diversity in children’s literature.
Championing inclusion through creativity, St Albert’s Primary School’s innovation has been recognised nationally, being shortlisted for the Curriculum Innovation Award at the Scottish Education Awards 2022.
We Can Be Heroes is a collection of 18 short stories featuring black, Asian and minority ethnic characters. By creating its own curated series, St Albert’s is making sure its children have access to literature which reflects their heritage and culture.
Not only does it empower and inspire children by reflecting their own experiences and personalities, the project raises awareness of interrogating literature and advocating for diversity.
Headteacher Clare Harker said: “This project is about visibility and voice. Our children’s research tells us they don’t see themselves, their experiences, reflected in literature and, as a result, when writing
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BY stories, they didn’t put themselves as central characters. They were not heroes in their own stories but when the children opened the new books, there were happy tears. Sometimes being seen is all people need to be able to shine.”
The project has won enterprise awards and secured grants to create a culturally responsive library.
Harker said: “I would love to say the stories are being picked up by the BBC or that Hollywood is coming. But more importantly, our children and parents tell us they feel included, more confident and listened to.
“Representation, visibility and understanding is important and this project represents our school motto, ‘creating conscience-led communities’.”
More achievements like these will be celebrated at the Scottish Education Awards 2022, in partnership with Education Scotland Scotland on June 8.
Tickets can be purchased at scottisheducationawards.co.uk.