This year's Pride Week began with a resounding message of courage and authenticity as Mr Andrew Thornbury, Teacher of Physics, led a Chapel sermon filled with moments of laughter and introspection, setting a vibrant and hopeful tone for the week-long celebration.
With a blend of wit and poignancy, Mr Thornbury recounted the challenges and triumphs of his path to self-acceptance. His words resonated with many in the audience, leaving pupils and staff uplifted and ready to participate in the numerous activities and events planned by the UNITY Pupil Action Committee (PAC), who came together to support Pride Society in this week of celebration.
Pride Flag and Illuminations
In a show of solidarity and pride, the Pride flag was raised on the flagpole, and the lights on Prince's Avenue and Scholars’ Court were illuminated in rainbow colours. These symbols of pride served as a beacon of our commitment to inclusion and care for our LGBTQ+ community.
Whole-School Celebrations
On Thursday 20 June, pupils and staff ditched their uniforms and dressed in solid colours or rainbow ensembles for non-school uniform day. Together with a doughnut sale, over £600 was raised for LGBTQ+ charity ‘Just Like Us’.
Each boarding House was encouraged to commemorate Pride Week in their own unique way, using flags, bunting, cakes, and vibrant displays to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Unity at Artifex
Huge thanks to Artifex organisers for giving space to Pride celebrations, with a screening of The Perks of Being a Wallflower at ‘Cinema on the Ceiling’ and for helping to plan the Unity PAC stand. Unity PAC came together to highlight their pupil-led societies like Pride, African Caribbean Society, Middle East and North Africa Society, and Fem-Soc at their stand.
Both alumni and current members of Unity PAC were invited to a celebratory BBQ at the end of the week, where they endorsed the new 'We Belong' Anti-discrimination Charter, making this a landmark event in the UNITY PAC calendar.
We came together to celebrate our LGBTQ+ community in glorious fashion, showing, once again, that our School is one of acceptance, welcome and unity.
M Jolly, Director of Wellbeing & Inclusion
