As Executive Headteacher of the Aspire Federation I am writing to commit to the GTRSB pledge. The Aspire Federation consists of four rural schools near Maidstone Kent:

• Kingswood Primary
• Leeds and Broomfield C of E Primary School
• Platts Heath Primary School
• Ulcombe C of E Primary School

All four schools have GRT pupils on roll, with Ulcombe having the largest cohort at about around 90% of their roll. The children attending our schools are either Gypsy, Roma, English or Irish Traveller with some being settled and some mobile, who return to our schools regularly. We have built relationships with the families over many years, so that they trust us and communicate with us e.g. when they are needing to travel for work. We include the children’s discussions in topics about homes, encourage them to share their beliefs in RE, involve them in discussions in PSHCE and encourage them to express their views. All staff are aware of the provision for all pupils including GRT, as we are small schools. The federation is committed to staff development and raising awareness of the GRT community.

• From Emma Hickling, Executive Headteacher, Aspire Federation, June 2022 

Archbishop Blanch are thrilled to announce that our secondary school has signed the GTRSB (Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen, and Boater) Pledge, becoming the first secondary school in Liverpool to do so. This significant milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to promoting equality and diversity within our school community.

By signing the GTRSB Pledge, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where every student, regardless of their background, can thrive and achieve their full potential. We believe that education should be both aspirational and inspirational, empowering all students to reach their goals and contribute positively to society.

Our school is committed to implementing policies and practices that support the needs and celebrate the cultures of Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen, and Boater communities. We recognise the unique challenges these students may face and are dedicated to providing tailored support to ensure their academic success and personal well-being.

We are proud to lead the way in Liverpool by taking this important step. Our commitment to the GTRSB Pledge aligns with our broader mission to cultivate a learning environment that values diversity, champions inclusivity, and inspires every student to succeed. Together, we will continue to work towards a future where all students have equal opportunities to excel and make meaningful contributions to our community and beyond.

• Headteacher: Mrs C Madeloso

At Bishopton Redmarshall CE Primary School we are adopting the GTRSB Pledge because we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for all our families.

Bishopton Redmarshall CE Primary School is built upon the words of Matthew 13:32 where, ‘like the mustard seed, with God’s love and strength, we are small but grow mighty.’

We believe that by being generously hospitable, we enable all members of the community to grow and nourish their God-given talents, developing curiosity in order to flourish and embrace life in all its fullness.

By taking this pledge, we aim to continue to promote kindness, responsibility and respect in everything we do. We believe every child and family in our community should feel valued, supported, and encouraged to grow and succeed; this pledge helps us work together to make our school a positive place for everyone.

1. Respect and Kindness: Encouraging all students and staff to treat each other with kindness, respect, and understanding, regardless of differences.
2. Inclusivity: Committing to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued, regardless of their background, abilities, or identity.
3. Safety: Ensuring that every student feels physically and emotionally safe, free from bullying or discrimination.
4. Responsibility: Promoting personal responsibility for actions and decisions, both in and out of the classroom, fostering good citizenship and accountability.
5. Collaboration: Encouraging teamwork, cooperation, and communication between pupils, teachers, and the wider school community.
6. Support: Committing to support each other’s growth and well-being, both academically and emotionally, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.
7. Celebrating Diversity: Valuing and celebrating the unique qualities of every individual, and promoting an appreciation for diverse perspectives, cultures, and experiences.

Our vision for flourishing involves deepening our integration into communities and acknowledge the beautiful and unique characteristics and strengths that communities bring.

Bishopton Redmarshall CE Primary School has established a named contact point for GTRSB families- this is Mr Jonathon Bull (Headteacher).

Read Headteacher Mrs Sarah Oliver Bryant’s commitment statement here:

We are a primary school is situated in Brynmawr in the county of Blaenau Gwent at the top of the South Wales valleys, which is an area of high deprivation.  Our school has approximately 300 pupils of which 13% are Gypsy Travellers.

We work tirelessly to ensure that all of our pupils regardless of culture are fully included into school life, and all have equally opportunities to take part in activities to enrich and broaden their individual learning experience. We ensure that we explore and are mindful of others’ cultures and beliefs and that we have a variety of learning experiences to allow us to discover and learn about our individual needs and the importance of respecting each other.

We are pleased to be joining the GRTSB pledge to show our continuing commitment to ensuring we are fully inclusive and ensure that all pupils at Blaenycwm achieve to the best of their own ability.

Statement from the Principal Mrs Melanie Kane:

Carmel College is committed to welcoming GTRSB students and their families. We provide an inclusive environment which enables all students to thrive academically and personally.

• Carmel College has a named contact point for their GTRSB students and potential students; Our named contact is the Assistant Vice Principal of Learning Support.
• Carmel College tracks and monitors the progress of GTRSB students as a specific group so that it can help them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
• Carmel College provides an inclusive and desirable learning environment for all students and engages positively with the GTRSB communities to ensure that students thrive and flourish and want to be in school.
• Carmel College works collaboratively with the Traveller Education Service to provide the best support and possible outcomes for our GTRSB students and families.

We, at Carmel College, commit to delivering best practice and strive to improve outcomes for this ethnic minority group.

At Co-op Academy Leeds, pupils are proud to be part of a diverse community, where all backgrounds are valued and pupils respect each other because leaders ensure that all pupils see themselves represented in the curriculum and activities that are planned.

Therefore, the academy is proud to sign up to the GTRSB Pledge for Schools, to demonstrate our commitment to creating the most welcoming & inclusive environment in which our GTRSB students can thrive academically & personally.

Our school is highly diverse, with students coming from a wide variety of backgrounds, including a growing number of GTRSB students, mainly of Eastern European Roma backgrounds (around 20% of our total students). As the proportion of students of Roma backgrounds has increased over time, we have committed to developing the understanding of our staff & school community of GTRSB cultures & celebrating this, building strong relationships with our Roma families, making them feel welcome and raising the aspirations and achievement of our Roma students. We would like to use the opportunity of signing up to the pledge to develop this further.

Co-op Academy Leeds has a named contact point for GTRSB pupils & potential pupils - the EAL Co-ordinator- working with the Community Support & Family Liaison Workers.

All new staff in the school have training to understand the cultural diversity and backgrounds of our students, including GTRSB students, with regular whole school training on understanding Gypsy Roma culture and meeting the needs of our students. The school has been involved in a number of Erasmus & other projects to further develop our understanding of Roma communities, which included visits to Roma communities & schools with Roma students in Romania & the Czech Republic. Our curriculum is representative of the variety of cultures in our school, including GTRSB culture, across a range of subjects from Roma music to teaching about the Holocaust in history and Roma role models in PE. We also recognise and celebrate Roma culture and history across the school more widely from events & assemblies to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and Gypsy Roma History Month, displays around the school and our annual Roma Festival, as well as Roma music & culture being included in wider school cultural events.

As part of our school data collection, the progress and outcomes of all students is monitored, with Gypsy Roma students identified as a particular group within this. This data is analysed & used to help inform strategies to support our students moving forward. We encourage our students and families to identify as Gypsy Roma as part of the school admissions process and as they move through the school, through supportive conversations, staff training, use of role models and encouraging them to view their culture & identity positively.

The academy provides additional support to our GTRSB students, families & local communities in a number of ways. This includes the employment of 2 Romanian speaking Community Support & Family Liaison Workers to support students & their families, other staff speaking languages of our Roma students & family, staff mentoring of Roma students, coffee mornings & other events aimed at our Roma families & communities, support in admissions meetings & with the admissions process and additional activities with pupils & parents to support the primary transition process. We recognise that many of our Roma students come from backgrounds where they may not have had the opportunity of a full education before joining our school & may be starting at our school with little or no or a very disrupted prior education & in some cases little or no literacy in any language, as well as little or no English. We have therefore put in a comprehensive programme to support these students, with an induction programme on joining the school, specially developed classes & curriculum for students new to formal education with a focus on developing basic literacy, numeracy & skills for learning and ongoing EAL support & staff training. We have high expectations of all our GTRSB students & work with them to develop their aspirations & achieve their potential.

I'm Lindsay Torrance, the Head Teacher of Castleton Primary School in Rochdale.

Our school building is 122 years old, with various additions over the years. Our classrooms are bright and airy. The community we serve is diverse, our ethos is inclusive and it is for these reasons that we are a UNCRC Rights Respecting Gold School with a PSHE-driven curriculum. We fundamentally believe that every child matters and that community produces success.

I have read the pledge and discussed it with staff and governors, the rights respecting team and the school council as well as our mental health ambassadors.  

We wish to sign the pledge, committing to the aspects of:

• data monitoring of GTRSB pupils and staff numbers
• building a supportive and welcoming culture for GTRSB pupils
• outreach & engagement to local GTRSB communities and
• inclusion, celebration, and commemoration of GTRSB cultures and communities.
• develop processes to identify GTRSB pupils and monitor their progress, as well as supporting the professional and personal development of staff members who self-identify as members of the communities.
• ensure that staff and pupils across departments are aware of the support available to GTRSB pupils in the school.
• ensure that staff development exists raising awareness of the barriers GTRSB pupils face accessing education, and broadly in society.

Headteacher, Mr Sebastian Olway signs Chidham Parochial Primary School to the pledge. 

I am writing to commit to the GTRSB Pledge. We are a culturally diverse school community that warmly welcomes families from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and different religious beliefs.

As headteacher of a large school in Burnley, only 3% of our children are from GTRSB families. Nevertheless, it is so important that we engage this community to ensure that they thrive and flourish and want to be in school. As part of this drive, we work closely with the Burnley GRT team with the goal of increasing attendance and promoting the transition to high school. Weekly sessions help to address gaps in learning but also to continue to build fundamental relationships and commitment with the world of education.

We work tirelessly to ensure that all of our pupils regardless of culture are fully included into school life, and all have equal opportunities to take part in activities to enrich and broaden their individual learning experience. We ensure that we explore and are mindful of others’ cultures and beliefs and that we have a variety of learning experiences to allow us to discover and learn about our individual needs and the importance of respecting each other. Where there is discrimination, whether in language or behaviour, it will be challenged. To develop this further, we have embarked on the Equality Mark programme, to again reinforce our ethos to Enjoy, Respect and Succeed.

We know the power of education and how it can boost and enable this group. I have also witnessed how vulnerable they are, and therefore commit to the GTRSB Pledge for Schools to deliver best practice and improve outcomes for GTRSB children and their families.

• C. Moretta (Headteacher)

Debenham High School is proud to pledge a firm commitment to developing an inclusive and friendly environment, in which all GTRSB students can flourish academically and personally. Our GTRSB community is currently small. Nevertheless, all within the community should feel valued and inspired; they should experience their culture, traditions and heritage being recognised and celebrated.

We pledge to support our GTRSB students to provide them and their families with support and guidance from Cheryl Schmidt, Assistant Headteacher. We will track and monitor the progress of our GTRSB students as a specific group so that it can help them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

We will also provide a positive learning environment for all students and engage positively with the GTRSB communities to ensure that students thrive and flourish and to enable access to Further and Higher Education. Where there is discrimination, whether in language or behaviour, it will be challenged.

We will educate to dispel prejudicial ideas and myths. We recognise that Continuous Professional Development for staff and inclusion of a diverse range of curriculum opportunities all contribute to challenging prejudice and celebrating diversity.

I sign this pledge on behalf of all members of our school community.

• Simon Martin, Headteacher, Debenham High School

GTRSB is the largest under-represented group within Darlington and wider County Durham. Egglescliffe CE Primary School have children from Darlington L.A who attend and have split families from a wealth of cultural backgrounds including unconfirmed GTRSB.

Our "Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman, Boatman Pledge" ensures we create an inclusive and supportive environment for students from Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GTRSB) communities. These students can face unique challenges in education, such as cultural misunderstandings, stereotypes, or even discrimination.

We are adopting the GTRSB Pledge because we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all our students. By taking this pledge, we aim to promote kindness, responsibility, and respect in everything we do. We believe every child should feel valued, supported, and encouraged to grow and succeed, and this pledge helps us work together to make our school a positive place for everyone.

1. Commitment to inclusivity: Committing to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued, regardless of their background, abilities, or identity.
2. Shared Responsibility: Promoting personal responsibility for actions and decisions, both in and out of the classroom, fostering good citizenship and accountability. Encouraging teamwork, cooperation, and communication between students, teachers, and the wider school community. Committing to support each other’s growth and well-being, both academically and emotionally, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.
3. Commitment to Equality: Encouraging students, staff, and the school community to commit to equal treatment and the elimination of stereotypes about GTRSB communities.
4. Cultural Awareness: Promoting knowledge and respect for the rich cultural traditions of Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities, to help break down prejudices.
5. Support for GTRSB Students: Providing targeted support, such as mentoring, tutoring, or culturally relevant materials to help GTRSB students thrive in the school environment.
6. Celebrating Diversity: Actively celebrating the diverse backgrounds of all students and ensuring that GTRSB students feel seen and valued in the school community.
7. Addressing Discrimination: Taking steps to prevent and address bullying or discrimination against GTRSB students, ensuring that the school is a safe place for all.

We are a slightly larger than average primary school situated in the centre of Darlington, which is an area of high deprivation.  Our school has approximately 312 pupils of which we currently have 1 Gypsy Traveller.

We work tirelessly to ensure that all of our pupils regardless of culture are fully included into school life, and all have equal opportunities to take part in activities to enrich and broaden their individual learning experience. We ensure that we explore and are mindful of others’ cultures and beliefs and that we have a variety of learning experiences to allow us to discover and learn about our individual needs and the importance of respecting each other.

We are pleased to be joining the GRTSB pledge to show our continuing commitment to ensuring we are fully inclusive and ensure that all pupils at Firthmoor achieve to the best of their own ability.

• From Headeacher Ann Dixon, Fithmoor Primary School, January 2024

Read Executive Headteacher Tracey Dunn’s commitment to the Pledge below: 

I ‘take the pledge’ today in support of our young people and families who live on boats.  We have a growing number of children who live on boats attending my canal side school, Fitzmaurice and my village school, Westwood with Iford.  We have worked extensively with our families to ensure that they are fully included; being quite creative during the pandemic to ensure that families could access the technology they needed for learning. We began celebrating GTRBS History month a couple of years ago, we work with other agencies such as the Canal and Rivers Trust to supporting families as needed. 

At Gainford C of E Primary School, we are dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all pupils, including those from Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen, and Boater backgrounds. Our Christian vision and core values guide the daily experiences of our school family, helping each member grow and develop to flourish in every aspect of their lives.

We believe that the diversity within our school community enriches the educational and social experiences of everyone. We understand that individuals from GTRSB communities may face societal pressures and pre-judgement, which can affect their self-esteem and sense of belonging. Therefore, we are committed to ensuring that every person in our school is treated fairly and with respect, no matter their background or identity.

As educators, we view it as our duty to stand against injustice and to create a school community where every child can flourish. We believe that every pupil deserves an environment that promotes equality and celebrates individual differences. Our aim is not just to encourage academic success but also to help our pupils become compassionate and understanding members of society.

Our Commitment

We pledge to:

1. Promote Understanding and Respect

• Educate our pupils and staff about the cultures, histories, and contributions of Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen, and Boater communities.

  • Encourage respect and understanding among all pupils, fostering a sense of belonging.

   

2. Ensure Equality of Opportunity
   • Provide equal access to educational resources and support for all pupils, regardless of their background.
     • Implement tailored support strategies to meet the individual needs of pupils from these communities.

3. Engage with Families
   • Actively involve families from Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen, and Boater backgrounds in school activities and decision-making processes.
     • Create a welcoming environment that encourages open communication and collaboration with all families.

4. Celebrate Diversity
   • Organise events and activities that celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen, and Boater communities.

   • Incorporate diverse perspectives into our curriculum and school life, ensuring that all pupils see themselves reflected in their education.

      

5. Monitor and Evaluate Progress
   • Regularly assess the effectiveness of our strategies and initiatives to support these communities.
   • Use feedback from pupils, families, and staff to continuously improve our practises.

Gainford C of E Primary School’s point of contact for Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman, and Boater (GTRSB) families is the Headteacher, Mrs Karen Whitaker.

Green Lane’s support for the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman and Boater community

Green Lane CE Primary School’s point of contact for Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman and Boater (GTRSB) pupils is the headteacher Rob Goffee

Green Lane CE Primary School is committed to supporting GTRSB pupils because we believe that every child should have the opportunity to ‘live life in all its fullness’ (John’s Gospel, Chapter 10, Verse 10). Our school community is committed to working towards creating the most appropriate and welcoming environment and conditions in which GTRSB pupils can stay resilient and thrive academically and personally. To do this:

• Green Lane has established a named contact point for GTRSB pupils and potential pupils, that person is the Headteacher, Mr Rob Goffee
• The school will clearly identify and publicise its support for GTRSB pupils on its website
• The school will monitor the progress of GTRSB pupils as a specific group so that we can do all we can to help them thrive
• Green Lane works to build a supportive and welcoming culture for all GTRSB pupils, celebrating and commemorating GTRSB cultures and communities
• The school commits to ensuring that staff development exists raising awareness of the barriers GTRSB pupils face accessing education, and broadly in society
• We want to create a warm and welcoming environment where families of GTRSB feel valued and honoured so that they feel comfortable to share their heritage with us
• Green Lane has an academy councillor whose role is to champion inclusion, equality and safeguarding for everyone in the school’s community

Wellbeing support for GTRSB pupils

Green Lane CE Primary School recognises that families with a GTRSB heritage will face societal challenges and discrimination that can lead to low self-esteem and mental health issues. To support pupils who may be experiencing this the school has committed to nurture based practice, with regular staff training. Staff have also been trained in the restorative approach as well as Zones of Regulation, practices that reduce feelings of isolation and ensure that pupils are listened to and supported.

A sense of belonging

Green Lane CE Primary School is committed to being an inclusive community that respects all cultures and identities. Pupils are taught about the pain that racialised language has on those who are marginalised in our society. The school records all incidents that target people due to their GTRSB heritage and promises to investigate and challenge all such incidents so that GTRSB families feel supported and valued. The headteacher Rob Goffee is responsible for reviewing and investigating all incidents that target pupils because of their GTRSB heritage.

Listening to and supporting GTRSB pupils and their families

Green Lane CE Primary School understands that for some families from the GTRSB community have had negative experiences of schooling. For those families the headteacher and the school’s wellbeing lead will commit to visiting these families in their home if coming into the school building causes anxiety. This is a commitment that the school makes because we want to encourage GTRSB families to share their experiences so that their children flourish and live life to the full at Green Lane.

Including and celebrating the GTRSB community

To ensure all pupils grow in awareness and appreciation of GTRSB cultures, we will incorporate the Gypsy Roma Traveller Heroes Month themes across collective worship, literacy, and creative subjects each year. Through storytelling, shared learning and pupil-led reflection, we will celebrate GTRSB voices and challenge stereotypes, helping every child understand and value our diverse society.

As a school who has positive and inclusive engagement with Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and /or Boater children and their families I would like to sign up to the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater (GTRSB) Pledge for Schools.  

I am aware the Pledge is designed to support best practice in ensuring monitoring of data, inclusive practice, and the development of widening participation practice to support GTRSB pupils, potential pupils, their families, and staff.  

Although we only currently have one family, we feel it is important to be fully inclusive and show awareness and understanding of the culture and background of all our children.

I attend the LCC GRT service meetings and liaise with Sam Hoban to ensure we are giving the best available support for our family and any other families who may choose to attend our school.

• Mrs S Cornwall

Headteacher Rani Sandhu writes on behalf of all the staff at Hardwick Primary School, to express our commitment to the ‘Take the Pledge’ and creating a tailored, inclusive, and nurturing whole school environment where GTRSB pupils thrive and achieve positive outcomes. Hardwick Primary School is a culturally diverse inner-city school in one of the most disadvantaged wards in the country. Our vision is for “everyone who is part of this school and its community to care about each other and help us to be better than our previous best, so that we can all achieve our potential.

We want it to be a place where everyone is respected and included and where we all share a love of learning, full of exciting experiences.” Currently 27% of our pupils are identified as being from the GTRSB community. Our curriculum approach is aimed at increasing all the children’s life experiences and cultural capital. The school’s inclusive ethos and curriculum supports children’s personal development, mental health and wellbeing and deepens their understanding of the world around them. In addition, Hardwick Primary School offers extended provision running our own free of charge breakfast club provision and provides a variety of extra-curricular activities and after school clubs.

Hardwick Primary School’s achievements include the Silver Mental Health and Wellbeing Award (2020), the Religious Education Quality Mark Gold Award (2020), Balanced System Scheme for Schools Accreditation (2019), IQM Inclusive Schools Award (2020), and IQM Centre of Excellence Award (2020). We are excited about the opportunity to ‘Take the Pledge’ and are committed to developing a whole school programme of support to engage the families of current and future GTRSB pupils.

The programme of support will broaden awareness of the GTRSB and the challenges they face, and will promote our approach to the inclusion, respect and celebration and commemoration of the GTRSB cultures and communities. The programme will be underpinned by a broad range of curricular and extra-curricular activities that improve socio-emotional and academic outcomes for GTRSB pupils.

Harnham Infant School pledges to continue with our commitment to undertake steps to support access, retention, and outcomes in education for our GTRSB children.

We are committed to working towards creating the most appropriate and welcoming environment and conditions for all children including those from GTRSB families, thus meaning they can thrive academically and personally.

We have an increased understanding of our school context through, robust and up to date policies and procedures. Data collection when families start with us is very important, we collect information on culture, ethnicity, religion and home life.

We routinely monitor the outcomes of all our pupils, including those from GTRSB families, our data collection programme filters children into categories so that we can clearly track progress between children from different backgrounds. All staff are aware of children from GTRSB families and teachers as well as our named contact liaise regularly with our traveller support contact.

As a school we recognise and have celebrated GRT History Month working alongside the Traveller Ed Service.

All staff have a cultural awareness, and teaching is therefore inclusive in its delivery. Our admissions process does not discriminate against GTRSB families. We have many families who are happy to self-declare that they are from a GTRSB background, suggesting that our school is seen as a ‘safe space’. Our Equality Policy, which is based on the Equality Act 2010 details our obligations as well as our aim to promote respect for difference and diversity in accordance with our school values.

Our outreach offer for GTRSB families includes the use of the Traveller Education Services. We have strong parent, teacher links due to our whole school approach to developing relationships with families, this starts from the very beginning of the Reception year when teachers complete home visits for the children in their class.

Our named contact for GTRSB pupils and their families is Laura Pike. inclusion@harnham-inf.wilts.sch.uk

At Harrowgate Hill Primary School, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all pupils, including those from Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater backgrounds. Our vision is to ensure that every child shines in their unique way, and we recognise that diversity enriches our school community.

We understand that GTRSB communities may face societal pressures and pre-judgement from others. Therefore, we strive to ensure that everyone in our school is treated fairly and with respect, regardless of their background or identify. As a place of learning and live, we see it as our moral duty to stand against injustice and to build a school community where every child can thrive.

To achieve this, we are dedicated to helping all children learn about and celebrate the diverse cultures, religions and ways of life that exist within our community. This understanding fosters our core values of respect and tolerance amongst our pupils, encouraging them to be supportive and considerate of one another.

We pledge to:

• Promote understanding and respect
• Ensure equality of opportunity
• Engage with families
• Celebrate diversity

Heathfield Primary School would like to sign the GTRSB School’s Pledge to continue to support the GTRSB families and young people in our school community.

Our school has approximately 439 pupils, of which we currently have 5 of Gypsy Traveller heritage.

We work tirelessly to ensure that all of our pupils regardless of culture are fully included into school life. At Heathfield Primary we have a warm welcoming approach for all our families within our school. We will continue to ensure our GRT families feel a sense of belonging and support them to achieve their academic potential.

Our named people within school are Peter Kirby-Bowstead (Headteacher) and Janine Lowther (Attendance Officer & Traveller Service).

Hurworth School is a Secondary School based in Darlington, an area with a long and rich Gypsy and Traveller community history. We have currently one student on roll who is a declared traveller. We work closely with The Rydal Academy who is part of our Trust. This school manages the Darlington Traveller Education and Achievement Service (TEAS) on behalf of the Local Authority offering the GRT community support with accessing and remaining in education, providing training and advice to all education establishments in the Borough of Darlington and networking and sharing best practice nationwide.

• Miss Sara Lindsay Burn, Assistant Headteacher

Longfield Academy is a secondary school based in Darlington. Darlington is historically a base for the Gypsy and Traveller community. We have two children who have declared their status but we are aware of many families who have links to this community. We are an inclusive school that welcomes families and children from any background, and we strive to understand the nuances of all our varied communities to enable everyone to feel safe, respected and accepted as part of our Longfield community.

We are in the same Trust as Rydal Academy who leads on the TEAS service on behalf of the local authority and we draw on their support to enhance our commitment to achieving the best outcomes for our GTRSB children and young people.

Milton Park Primary School is a large two form entry primary school on the outskirts of Weston-S-Mare. Our school has 378 pupils of whom 2% are GTRSB children. The children who attend our school live locally on a traveler site in Weston-super-Mare.

As part of our school commitment to foster and grow strong relationships with the local GTRSB community, all staff have received cultural awareness training and whole school events are being planned within the curriculum to raise awareness within our school community.

Our school is a diverse community and we ensure that all our pupils are supported academically, socially and emotionally.

We work closely with our Traveller Advisory Teacher and monitor attainment and attendance. As part of this we are fully committed to taking the GTRSB pledge. We are looking forward to embedding more GTRSB links into our curriculum.

• Headteacher:  Mrs K Jordan

Read Headteacher Johnathon Greens commitment to the Pledge:

As Headteacher of a small school on the outskirts of York where 40% of our children are from GTRSB families it is so important that we engage this community to ensure that they thrive and flourish and want to be in school. I have seen first-hand the power of education and how it can boost and enable this group. I have also witnessed how vulnerable they are, and therefore commit to the GTRSB Pledge for Schools to deliver best practice and improve outcomes for GTRSB children and their families.

Northwood Primary School would like to sign the GTRSB School’s Pledge to continue to support the GTRSB families and young people in our school community. As with all children and families, we will continue to ensure our GRT families feel a sense of belonging and support them to achieve their academic potential. Northwood Primary School has named a point of contact for GTRSB families who is also the Deputy Head Teacher. As we already have GRT families attending Northwood, we already work closely with Darlington’s Traveller Education Service. 

As part of the data monitoring of our whole school community, we monitor the progress of all groups of children, including our GRT children. We work with TEAS to monitor attendance of our GRT children. We are currently inviting parents to attendance planning meetings to support families to remove barriers to education. We host a GRT homework club, which is delivered by TEAS. The club is well attended with up to 14 children attending the weekly club.

• From Miss Sarah Kelly (Deputy Head Teacher)

Read Head of School Jane Driver’s commitment to the Pledge here:

Queen Katharine Academy proudly pledges a firm commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment, in which all GTRSB students can thrive academically and personally. As a school community, we are dedicated to raising the profile of GTRSB cultures and celebrating the heritages and traditions of our GTRSB students. We pledge to support our GTRSB students, through our partnership with Compas charity, to provide our students and families with support and guidance from positive role models, as well as to monitor and challenge inequalities experienced by our GTRSB communities. Through our ROGA (Roma of Great Ability) and ‘Roma Leaders’ student leadership programmes, we are committed to raising the aspirations of our GTRSB students and, as an inclusive centre of excellence, to creating opportunities for them to make outstanding academic progress and gain access to Further and Higher Education.

At Queen Katharine Academy, we acknowledge the inequalities and discrimination experienced by many of our GTRSB communities, and we stand firm in our commitment to challenging and tackling any discriminatory language and behaviours. We also recognise the importance of cultural awareness training for all staff and remain dedicated to sharing our expertise by delivering ongoing Continuous Professional Development for our staff body, as well as staff from schools across the East of England. We pledge to continue to celebrate and commemorate key dates for our GTRSB communities, including International Roma Day, GRT History Month and Holocaust Memorial Day and engage our families in coming together to mark these occasions.

Queen Katharine Academy promotes equal opportunities and has a strong moral ethos, underpinned by the school RESPECT charter. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive centre with high expectations for all students, regardless of race, nationality, gender, or religion. We therefore stand united in continuing our work to raise the profile of our GTRSB communities and supporting them to positively shape their own future and make valued contributions to society.

Watch this video whereby we explain our commitment to the GTRSB Pledge.

At Rosegrove Infant School we are proud to welcome children and families from Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boaters backgrounds. We have worked hard to create a warm and welcoming environment in which GTRSB pupils can stay resilient and thrive academically and personally.

We do this through building strong relationships with both the children and their families. Mrs Brammer, our School Business Manager has established open and honest relationships with our families. 

As the first port of call and often the first familiar face our families see this has been a vital link for both the families and us as a school, enabling us to get to know the families, the children and their wishes and hopes for their children for their future at school.

Springfield Academy is situated in the north of Darlington, a town with a long and rich Gypsy and Traveller community history. Our school has approximately 237 pupils of which we currently have 1 declared traveller family. We are a small mainstream primary, in a huge building called The Education Village. We are committed to working with the Darlington Traveller Education and Achievement Service.

The village is an inclusive site, teaching and supporting more than 1300 pupils in a mainstream primary, a mainstream secondary school and a special school. We pride ourselves on being inclusive, as we share our values alongside one another. 

We strive to ensure that all our pupils are successful, happy, informed, nurtured and embrace their community. We explore and celebrate other cultures and beliefs and develop understanding and tolerance. 

We are happy to join the GTRSB (Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater) pledge to celebrate our continuing commitment to ensuring we are fully inclusive and that all pupils at Springfield Academy are encouraged to shine.

Paula Austin (Head of School) Springfield Academy

Headteacher: Mrs. F. Martin

St. Andrews Primary School is a one form entry school situated in Congresbury near Bristol. Our school has 198 children of whom 8% are GTRSB children. The children predominantly live on two local Traveller sites, one in Hewish and one in Weston – Super – Mare.

At St. Andrews we work extremely hard to foster strong relationships with the local GTRSB community. We are proud of the positive relationships we have forged and we value the trust that they have placed with us.

Staff at St. Andrews regularly receive cultural awareness training and our curriculum is designed to be inclusive, broad and sympathetic to the needs of our local community. In the future we are looking forward to embedding more GTRSB links into curriculum. We celebrate diversity and we are ensure that all of our pupils, including children from the GTRSB communities are supported academically, socially and emotionally. We monitor GTRSB attainment and attendance in liaison with our Traveller Advisory Teacher.

As a school we celebrate Traveller culture, for example we have held whole school events for GTRSB History month. All children at St. Andrews including our GTRSB children thrive and are given the best possible chance to reach their full potential. We are fully committed to taking the GTRSB pledge and working to fulfil its criteria.

St Anne's Church Academy, which is a dual campus 420 place primary school, are pleased to be joining the GRTSB pledge to show our continuing commitment to our inclusive practice ensuring all children have quality learning experiences.

One of our campuses is situated very close to a large Traveller site and we have a long history of children from the site attending the school. Currently, about 10% of our Hewish pupils are from GRT families but this fluctuates throughout the year. We are more than happy to add our school to those already supporting 'The Pledge'.

At St Anne’s we are very proud of the positive relationships we have developed with our local GRT community. We are committed to providing a very inclusive environment where all our pupils can celebrate their culture and beliefs while receiving a quality education allowing them to flourish and achieve. 

Lisa Thompson headteacher from Charles Roman Catholic Primary School takes the pledge to support the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showman, and Boater community.

At the present moment we do not have any GTRSB pupils but if we were to welcome and pupils in the future, we would support them through relevant monitoring of progress and provide the correct advice and tools to enable them to access higher education. This will be done in a safe and caring environment for both pupils and their families.

We would be very proud to support you in all you do for the GTRSB community.

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi is committed to welcoming, educating and supporting all members of the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman, Boater community. Inspired by our Christian values, we accept this pledge to ensure that our GTRSB students are welcomed into a community where they can flourish, thrive, and shine. We challenge prejudice, derogatory language and discrimination against BTRSB children. Our school mission is ‘success for all’ and we believe that we can continue to foster an inclusive environment where our students can ‘live, love, and learn together in the light of Christ.’

See below Headteacher Marie Best’s commitment to the Pledge:

At St. Gregory's Catholic Academy, we pride ourselves in being an inclusive school where every individual is valued for their uniqueness. We are guided by our Trust Virtues and Gospel Values and support our children, their families and the local community with these at the forefront. In our school, we promote respect for the rights and dignity of every human person, and especially the marginalised. We will continue to welcome any individual who wishes to join our special community.

St. Hugh’s is an inclusive and welcoming school for all. We aim to cater for the needs of all our children and the communities we serve. We are firmly committed to meeting the needs of our GTRSB community and would like to sign the pledge as a token of our determination to do this to the best of our ability. We are committed to doing this by ensuring that families from this community are able to access education and achieve the best possible outcomes. We will ensure that all of our policies and procedures include GTRSB and we will monitor their effectiveness. We will ensure that all staff understand and are responsive to the particular needs of this community and we will continue to try our best to engage with parents and families. We want all of our children, families and communities to feel welcome, included and supported in our school.

• Mrs A Flood, Head of School

At St John’s Catholic Primary School, we proudly affirm our commitment to the Romany Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boaters (GTRSB) Pledge for Schools, recognising the unique identities, cultures and contributions of these communities within our wider school family.

Rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and guided by the themes of Catholic Social Teaching, we believe that every child is created in the image and likeness of God and deserves dignity, respect, and the opportunity to flourish.

In line with our values, we pledge to:

• Promote equity and inclusion for GTRSB pupils in all aspects of school life.
• Ensure fair access, participation and outcomes in education for children from GTRSB backgrounds.
• Foster understanding, respect and celebration of GTRSB cultures within our curriculum and wider school community.
• Work in partnership with families, valuing their voice and expertise in supporting the education of their children.
• Challenge stereotypes and discrimination whenever and wherever they occur.
• Create a welcoming and supportive environment where all children feel safe, valued, and a true sense of belonging.

This pledge reflects our commitment to two key themes of Catholic Social Teaching:

• Dignity of the Human Person – We recognise and uphold the God-given worth of every child, ensuring that all learners are treated with compassion, respect, and justice.
• Family and Community – We strive to build strong partnerships with families and nurture a community where every culture is respected, and every voice is heard.

By signing this pledge, St John’s Catholic Primary School renews its mission to be a place where the Gospel values are lived out in action, where diversity is cherished, and where every child is empowered to achieve their God-given potential.

Together, we grow and learn in the footsteps of Jesus. 

I ‘Take the Pledge’ today on behalf of the staff at St. Joseph’s Primary school. We are a culturally diverse school community that warmly welcomes families from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and different religious beliefs. As a school staff we work constantly to provide a caring, Christian environment, where both adults and children show a genuine respect for one another in a calm and positive learning atmosphere.

We are committed to providing that all of our pupils, regardless of culture, are fully included into school life, and all have equally opportunities to take part in activities to enrich and broaden their individual learning experience.

We are pleased to be joining the GRTSB pledge to show our continuing commitment to ensuring we are fully inclusive and ensure all our children achieve their full potential.

• Debra Hargreaves, Headteacher

At St Mary’s R.C. school we are totally committed to our GRT pupils and parents. We strive to provide a happy and safe learning environment being mindful of GRT cultural differences. We work alongside families to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment We endeavour to embrace and promote cultural diversity throughout all aspects of school life.

St Nicholas Catholic High School are committed to the principles and actions of GRT and we looking forward to working together with you in the future.

• Headteacher: Craig Burns

We are a Catholic primary school situated in Corsham in the county of Wiltshire.  Our school's unofficial motto is 'All are Welcome' and we are committed to valuing and respecting families from all backgrounds. We have approximately 180 pupils of which 5% are Gypsy Travellers.

Our curriculum is intended to meet the needs of all children at Saint Patrick’s and reflect a range of cultures and traditions to further the children’s skills, knowledge and understanding.

At Saint Patrick’s we will ensure that children are happy, stimulated and challenged so that they can make good progress across the curriculum and achieve the highest standards possible. All staff in school have high expectations and plan a curriculum that is interesting, relevant, extends children’s understanding of the subject and ensures high quality work.

We are pleased to be joining the GRTSB pledge to show our continuing commitment to ensuring we are fully inclusive and ensure that all pupils at St Patrick's achieve to the best of their own ability.

• Charlotte Minty, Deputy Headteacher

At St. Sampson’s Primary School we believe that all children should have the opportunity to “Light up Life and Learning”, regardless of heritage, background, ethnicity or race. We welcome many different families in to our school community and value each and every one of them. We pride ourselves in getting to know and working closely to support of all of our children and families, with Laura Johnson, Deputy Head Teacher, being the key contact for our GRTSB (Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showman and Boater) families. There is additional commitment at leadership level with Jennifer Bayne, Head Teacher, being a member of the Traveller Reference Group. 

Our work with the local authority’s ETMAS (Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service) ensures any that any additional support is put in place for our GRTSB children on a 1:1 basis, which allows us to support progress across key curriculum areas and facilitate high quality provision in Reading, Writing and Maths. Children’s progress is monitored and analysed on a termly basis, where every child from the GRTSB is discussed individually and new or different interventions are put in place if progress is not evident. Working with EMTAS has also allowed us to increase the level of outreach work that we can offer, as their staff also have excellent working relationships with our GRTSB families. 

ETMAS provide training sessions educate staff about GRTSB culture and heritage. They join our school team every year to deliver sessions to a number of classes about GRTSB culture during GRTSB History Month. This gives our children the opportunity to explore a significant person from GRTSB culture and develop a piece of work related to their learning. Alongside this, GRTSB children are considered when planning interventions and we work to ensure access to as many cultural capital opportunities as possible as these may not always be accessible to them outside of school. We actively encourage our GRTSB parents to join us for school trips so that they feel satisfied that their children are safe. This has allowed us to build excellent working relationships based on mutual understanding with many of our GRTSB families.

We pride ourselves at St. Sampson’s on being an inclusive school where everyone is welcome. Bullying, of any kind, is not tolerated and is acted upon immediately by all members of staff. Our school has an established procedure for recording all incidents of prejudice-based bullying, and this includes bullying related to religion, belief or culture. Any incidents that do occur are reported to the local authority to ensure that intervention is put in place to prevent any further concerns or incidents.

At St Stephen's CofE Primary School, we would like to take 'The Pledge' to demonstrate our commitment to creating and maintaining a school environment where all GTRSB children can thrive academically and personally. 

We have a number of GTRSB children already in school and have worked hard to ensure they feel welcome, valued and cherished. This has been greatly valued by members of the GTRSB community in Preston and has led to an increase in the number of GTRSB children attending our school.

We are committed to:

• Continuing to have a named contact point for GTRSB pupils and potential pupils.
• Identifying and publicising the support for GTRSB pupils already in place at our school. This support engage with the key areas of the Pledge:
• data monitoring of GTRSB pupils and staff numbers;
• building a supportive and welcoming culture for GTRSB pupils;
• outreach & engagement to local GTRSB communities and
• inclusion, celebration and commemoration of GTRSB cultures and communities.
• Developing processes to identify GTRSB pupils and monitor their progress, as well as supporting the professional and personal development of staff members who self-identify as members of the communities.
• Ensuring that staff and pupils across departments are aware of the support available to GTRSB pupils in the school.
• Ensuring that staff development exists that raises awareness of the barriers GTRSB pupils face accessing education, and broadly in society.

Whilst we are proud of the steps we have already taken, we are committed to further improvement in relation to the key areas of the Pledge.

Dame Maura Regan CEO of Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust introduces St Teresa's School Darlington led by Headteacher Paula Strachen, as the inaugural signatory for the GTRSB Pledge for Schools. See here our video explaining our commitment to the Pledge.

Read Headteacher Joanne Sand’s commitment to the Pledge below: 

As Head teacher of  St Wilfrid's where over 10% of our pupils are from GTRSB families I'm happy to add our school to those already supporting 'The Pledge'.

At St Wilfrid's we are proud of the positive relationships we have developed with our local GRT community and value the trust they have put in us over several generations choosing our school for their children. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment where all our pupils can celebrate their culture and beliefs while receiving a quality education. 

Watch this video which explains our commitment to the Pledge.

Read Headteacher John Armitage’s commitment to the pledge here:

The Rydal Academy is a large Primary school based in Darlington, an area with a long and rich Gypsy and Traveller community history. Since the school was opened in 2013 between 10% and 15% of the school roll has been made up of Gypsy and Traveller pupils. Our school roll includes a number of dual registered pupils, both as main school and subsidiary school, static families and families who regularly travel out of area.

All staff within the school receive regular cultural development training and our curriculum was built through consultation to be inclusive and sympathetic to our local community. We are proud to say relationships with our families and the GRT community are a strength of the school.

The school manages the Darlington Traveller Education and Achievement Service (TEAS) on behalf of the Local Authority offering the GRT community support with accessing and remaining in education, providing training and advice to all education establishments in the Borough of Darlington and networking and sharing best practice nationwide.

Read Uckfield College Principal Hugh Hennebry’s commitment to the Pledge here:

Our college community is committed to our welcoming and inclusive environment which enables Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater (GTRSB) students to thrive academically and personally. To do this:

• Uckfield College has a named contact point for GTRSB students and potential students; that person is the Assistant Headteacher and Inclusion Leader.
• The college monitors the progress of GTRSB students as a specific group so that it can do all it can to help them thrive.
• Uckfield College works to build a supportive and welcoming culture for all GTRSB students and engages positively with GTRSB communities. The college commits to ensuring that staff professional development exists, raising awareness of the barriers GTRSB students face accessing education, and broadly in society.

At Ward Jackson Church of England Primary School, we believe that every child is made in the image of God and is deeply loved. As a school rooted in Christian values and guided by The Ward Jackson Way, we are committed to ensuring that all pupils feel seen, respected, and valued — including those from Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater (GTRSB) communities.

We recognise that GTRSB communities have historically faced barriers to education, prejudice, and exclusion. As a place of learning and love, we see it as our moral and spiritual duty to stand against injustice and to build a school community where every child can thrive, regardless of their background.

This pledge reflects our commitment to inclusion, equity, and celebration of diversity. It sets out how we will continue to nurture an environment where GTRSB pupils are welcomed fully into our school family, empowered to lead their own learning, and encouraged to explore their identity with pride.

By living out this pledge, we are living out The Ward Jackson Way — with Jesus at the heart of all we do.

Ward Jackson CE Primary School GTRSB Pledge

At Ward Jackson Church of England Primary School, we honour the dignity and unique identity of every child in our care, including our Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater pupils and families.

The Ward Jackson Way… has Jesus at the heart of it all.

In His love, we welcome all people as children of God. We recognise and celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of the GTRSB communities.

The Ward Jackson Way… empowers me to love, to learn, to explore.

We pledge to:

Love by building inclusive, respectful relationships that embrace difference and promote belonging.

Learn by valuing the lived experiences of GTRSB pupils and embedding them within our curriculum and school life.

Explore by encouraging open-hearted curiosity and ensuring every child can ask big questions in a space that is safe and free from prejudice.

By following The Ward Jackson Way, we commit to:

Listening to and working alongside GTRSB pupils and families.

Challenging stereotypes and standing against discrimination in all its forms.

Celebrating diversity as a gift from God that enriches our school and community.

In doing so, we walk together in faith, hope, and love — ensuring all children, including those from GTRSB backgrounds, flourish in our care. 

Wendover Church of England Junior School is happy to support our GTSRB families. Through living our Christian values, everyone at our school has the opportunity to flourish.  We nurture the curiosity to learn, the courage to lead and the compassion to care. We work tirelessly towards our goal of every child, regardless of background and starting point, improving, growing and flourishing. We want all children and families to feel that they are part of our community and included in all aspects of school life.