REND Northampton: A Powerful Evening of Reflection, Connection, and Commitment to Racial Equity
On Friday, 9 May, Creative Education Trust proudly hosted REND Northampton — our first Racial Equity Network Dinner — and what an evening it was.
The evening was enriched by musical performances from students at Weavers Academy and Abbeyfield School, setting a warm and inclusive tone. Over 130 attendees — including staff from across the Trust as well as colleagues from other organisations — engaged in thought-provoking discussions, reflection activities, and a keynote speech that left a lasting impact.
“A night which resonated with me, empowered me and made me feel like I’m not alone… allowing us to begin difficult conversations in a professional and respectful manner.”
From traditional dress and culturally significant details — like chocolates on the tables in homage to Indian celebrations — to carefully crafted icebreakers, every element was designed to make attendees feel seen, heard, and valued.
Each table also received Creative Education Trust’s REND newsletter, highlighting trust-wide and school-level practices that exemplify our commitment to equity and inclusion.
Dr. Jason Howard, Director of Education at Creative Education Trust, opened the evening with a powerful message: racial equity is not an optional initiative, but a core responsibility for those who serve young people. His words grounded the evening in both purpose and urgency.
Keynote speaker Pav Aujla, Quality of Education Leader at Creative Education Trust delivered a deeply personal and courageous address, encouraging attendees to reflect on their own settings and practices. Her stories — both painful and uplifting — prompted many to ask, “Could this happen in my setting? What could I change?”
“It felt like you were telling my story,” several attendees shared.
To close the evening, Sufian Sadiq, Director of Teaching at Chiltern Learning Trust, reminded us that REND is not a one-off event — it is a movement. His message was clear: the work of racial equity continues in every school, every meeting, and every decision we make.
Creating Spaces for Reflection
Reflection was a key part of the evening. Participants were invited to engage with carefully designed prompts and, at the end of the night, to make a personal commitment — either written on a card or spoken on camera.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank our sponsors — TimePlan Education, GreatFind Recruitment, and Teaching Personnel — for their invaluable support. Their commitment to equity and inclusion helped make REND Northampton a truly memorable and impactful event.
A special thank you to Nimish Lad, Creative Education Trust’s Head of Curriculum Development, who compèred the evening with warmth and professionalism.
“Wow… what an evening, I’m totally blown away! The REND Northampton event was truly inspirational. It was brilliant to support such an important initiative and to connect with passionate leaders from across the sector and other MATs and schools.”
REND prompts all of us working in education to consider questions like:
- In what ways do our professional development programmes incorporate and promote the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
- How do we monitor, support, and improve representation in leadership roles across our school community?
- How do our resources — including displays, classroom materials, and library collections — reflect and celebrate the identities of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic groups, fostering a strong and positive sense of identity for all learners?