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This October, Cheltenham Ladies’ College is proud to celebrate Black History Month (BHM) under the national theme “Standing Firm in Power and Pride”. The theme has sparked lively and thoughtful discussion across College, including the question, “What power?”, inviting students and staff to reflect on the achievements, influence, and continuing challenges experienced by Black communities today.

At CLC, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are not confined to a single month but are woven throughout the school calendar and curriculum. Black History Month provides a valuable opportunity to pause, share, and listen, to celebrate identity, resilience, and creativity, and to explore the stories that shape our shared history. Supported especially by the History, English and Library Departments, as well as by the student representative teams, a rich programme of events is enabling students to consider how history, culture, and literature intersect with the world they experience today.

Across College, vibrant displays celebrate the visit of Professor Olivette Otele, the distinguished historian and author, whose work on memory, race, and belonging continues to challenge and inspire. Her keynote lecture served as a powerful focal point for discussion and reflection, and a new internal landing page expanded on the themes she explored, bringing together student reflections, key quotes, and heroes that captured the spirit of the month. This event also forms part of the College’s wider EDI focus on engaging with a range of voices and perspectives that deepen understanding and strengthen community awareness.

School assemblies throughout October have further promoted the importance of Black History Month, providing opportunities for students to explore how the themes of power and pride connect to their own sense of identity, fairness, and social responsibility. These assemblies have also reinforced the College’s commitment to Fundamental British Values, democracy, respect, tolerance, individual liberty, and the rule of law, and their alignment with the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act. By making these links explicit, students can see how principles of equality and inclusion underpin both national values and daily life at CLC.

Reading and reflection play a central role in this year’s programme. The Library and Marble Corridor have been transformed with displays highlighting a rich vein of literature from Black authors, scholars, and poets, works that explore identity, migration, creativity, and power across generations. These reading lists invite students to delve into both classic and contemporary voices, from James Baldwin and Maya Angelou to Bernardine Evaristo and Amanda Gorman. They also connect to the College’s broader EDI initiative to ensure that diverse voices are represented in the resources, reading lists, and teaching materials that shape learning throughout the year.

Meanwhile, the History and Politics Society (HiPoSoc) led a session inspired by the Gloucester History Festival, encouraging students to consider how historical narratives are formed and whose voices are amplified. In addition, the Oxford staircase blackboard has become a creative space for reflection on this year’s BHM theme, and the screening of Hidden Figures celebrated the pioneering Black women whose brilliance and determination transformed the field of STEM through their work at NASA. Furthermore, a themed quiz and treasure hunt helped students uncover hidden stories and lesser-known figures in Black history, bringing learning to life in interactive ways.

These initiatives are part of CLC’s broader, year-round commitment to celebrating inclusion and promoting understanding across the curriculum and wider community. Through reading, discussion, and creative exploration, students are encouraged to engage critically and compassionately with the world around them. The College continues to stand firm in its belief that learning about diverse experiences, and the people who shaped them, is both a source of pride and a foundation of power.

Dr Gamblin, Vice Principal Academic