Black History Month is celebrated each October and has the aim of promoting awareness of the contribution of Black communities in the UK. In order to educate ourselves and celebrate Black History Month the Fettes Equality & Inclusion society have organised a variety of activities.

Last week, a selection of students spoke each day in Chapel around the theme Great Black Britons. The Chapel readers covered key areas such as why Black History Month is so important and gave guidance on how we can celebrate it as a school. It was also a fantastic opportunity to recognise and celebrate Great Black Britons who might not be so well known but have certainly made a significant contribution not just here in the UK but around the world. The examples shared by the students included the former shadow home secretary Dianne Abbott, British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and his piano playing sister, Isata, British author Malorie Blackman, British scientist Dr Maggi Aderin-Pocock and British historian, writer and broadcaster David Olusoga. It’s important for us all to lift them up and celebrate their achievements. Thank you to our Chapel readers, Nathan E, Kai L, Zuena K, Simi A and Alice P for providing us with a wonderfully informative Chapel service.

To coincide with Black History Month, our wonderful catering department provided a delicious menu which included marinated spiced chicken with jollof rice, blackened hake, crispy chilli okra, smoked tofu and for dessert seared chilli and vanilla pineapple with creamy rice. Thank you for a wonderful lunch.

To further celebrate our Great Black Britons our academic faculties and departments are running a competition, asking the students to celebrate and champion the life, work and achievements of a Great Black Briton in the any format they desire, including painting, essay writing or film creation. We look forward to finding out the winner of the competition after Half Term, best of luck to everyone taking part.