Diversity, equity and inclusion

Diversity, equity and inclusion

In common with many organisations, in 2020 the School began to examine itself more intensively in response to the global Black Lives Matter movement and subsequent feedback and scrutiny from the wider Guildhall School community. As an institution, we recognise that we have not done enough to understand the lived experience of staff and students from underrepresented backgrounds. In order to better understand these experiences, we have been working closely with a range of specialists and organisations with lived experience and expertise, to ensure our School becomes an actively anti-discriminatory, anti-racist and inclusive organisation.

The School has agreed five Objectives:

  • Demonstrate our equity, diversity and inclusion commitment
  • Create an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive
  • Contextualise the library, curriculum/repertoire, and pedagogy
  • Attract under-represented student groups
  • Attract, select and retain a diverse workforce

Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee has been working on actions to support the delivery of these objectives, and will integrate them into a School-wide action plan spanning all of our faculties, and covering our broader School audience and equity groups. In the meantime, Advisory Groups have been put in place in each department to support and advise on issues that are specific to each area of our teaching (Music, Drama, Production Arts), recognising this is only the start of our journey in this area.

The School has also appointed a new Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion to our senior leadership team. This role will be responsible for managing the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion programme and the delivery of the equity objectives, and will chair the Committee.

Faculty updates

You can find details of the work currently being undertaken in each of our departments here:

Creating a safe space

Guildhall School is committed to creating a safe study and working environment. The School does not tolerate any form of bullying or harassment, and expects all members of our community to treat each other with respect, courtesy and consideration.

You can read the School's Safe Space statement below.

Equality Duty

The Equality Act 2010 introduced the Single Equality Duty for public bodies:

  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act.
  • Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
  • Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

The general equality duty covers the following protected characteristics: 

  • age (including children and young people)
  • disability
  • gender reassignment
  • pregnancy and maternity
  • race, religion or belief
  • sex and sexual orientation
  • marriage and civil partnership

The specific duties of the Act require each public body to:

1. Publish information to demonstrate its compliance with the general equality duty; this information to include information relating to people who share a protected characteristic who are its employees and other people affected by its policies and practices.  

2. Publish one or more objectives that it thinks it needs to further the aims of the general equality duty. The objectives must be specific and measurable.

You can find our published information below.