World Teachers’ Day: inspiring young minds

“Teaching has allowed me to walk in my purpose”

Christine Graham, Headteacher at St Mary’s Lewisham CE Primary School

From an early age, I felt a calling to teach. At just four years old, when my mother worked as a childminder, I would gather the children and play ‘school’ and I was always the teacher. Even in my later jobs, I was the one who explained, guided and taught others. Yet – despite this gift – I never imagined I would one day become a teacher, let alone a headteacher. Growing up, there were very few teachers who looked like me and that absence shaped my view of what was possible.

It was only after my children were born that I realised how important it was for them to see black teachers and role models in their classrooms. I wanted them to experience a sense of belonging and pride in their identity, to know that they too could take up space in education and leadership. Leaving a secure job as a housing officer at Southwark Council to pursue teaching was daunting, especially as the youngest of seven siblings in my black Caribbean family – none of whom had gone to university. But I felt a deeper calling to answer.

Since then, teaching has allowed me to walk in my purpose. As a teacher and headteacher, it is a privilege to have become a role model for many colleagues and children, including my two boys Rohann and Warren, and nieces and nephews – eight of whom have gone on to university. Former pupils still send me messages, telling me that my example inspired them to step into leadership roles and teaching. That is the true power of education – it shapes not only what we know, but who we believe we can become.

As Proverbs 22:6 reminds us, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” For me, teaching is about more than knowledge – it is about identity, belonging, and legacy.

“Education plays a key role in helping us to appreciate the breadth of influences that make us who we are”

Sola Ingram, Headteacher at St Mark’s CE Primary School, Lambeth

From a very young age, I have always had an interest in working with children and making a difference in their lives. My mum and sister ran nurseries and as a teenager I helped out during school holidays and in my spare time. Initially my interest was more towards social work but spending a year as a class Teaching Assistant prior to going to university inspired a love for primary education and the teaching profession. I have been involved in education for over 30 years and 25 of those years have been in Lambeth Education. I have been the headteacher of St Mark’s Primary School for the last 10 years.

Not only do I have a deep passion for working with children and young people, I feel that I have an ability to motivate, connect with and inspire them in their learning and personal development. Before I went into the teaching profession, I taught children in Sunday School within a church setting and this also contributed to the strong sense that I was being called by God to teach in schools.

Having a sense of belonging and identity is important for each one of us and for me it is multi-faceted and an enhancing experience rather than being limited to just one thing or another. Being a black, British man born in London, being of Nigerian heritage, raised near Birmingham in a mixed family, married to an Eritrean wife and being a born again Christian, provides me with a wide range of identities and influences that have shaped me, made me who I am and brings me into connection with others. I think education plays a key role in helping us to appreciate the breadth of influences that make us who we are. Whilst we can celebrate those things that are quite distinct to ourselves – education helps to broaden our minds to see and appreciate the commonalities that unite us, such as the appreciation of shared values and qualities like kindness, humour and faith.

To be honest, from previously being the organiser of many Black History Month events and activities in a number of the schools that I worked in, I no longer promote BHM within my school. Black histories are broad and diverse from each other, and I now don’t feel comfortable about narrowing its focus to mere ‘story telling’, or ‘drumming’ of specific events in history, focusing on the same black icons during the month of October. Instead, I just ensure that black poets, artists, authors, historical figures and black presence in different historical periods appears within and across our curriculum. It remains a constant feature across the school and across the whole year. It just feels more natural to be focusing on the work of Stephen Wiltshire when Year 2 are looking at the London Skyline in Art or the life and achievements of Mae Jamison, during the Year 1 topic about space. Occasionally I get asked by a parent why we aren’t celebrating Black History Month and I explain to them that at St Mark’s, we celebrate Black History Year!

“Education is critical, it is around the willingness of people to look beyond colour and every school should have a teaching community that represents its school”

Renata Joseph, Headteacher at Saint Cecilia’s CE School, Wandsworth

I always wanted to be a teacher. I am from a family of teachers; they are all based in Grenada. I was born in Wandsworth, and I grew up and was educated in Wandsworth. I worship at a Pentecostal church, but I have a deep care and affinity to the Anglican tradition as that’s what I was bought up in. I am first generation immigrant to the UK; both my parents are from the Caribbean. I didn’t see any black teachers when I was at school in London in the 80’s and 90’s. My parents were aspirational to me; they wanted me to go further – I have always had great encouragers at school and at home.

I entered teaching in the independent sector, and I was the first black teacher at that school. Education is critical, it is around the willingness of people to look beyond colour, and every school should have a teaching community that represents its school, as there are fewer opportunities for people from ethnic backgrounds, but the progress has been significant. Since the murder of George Flloyd, we reviewed our approach to addressing racial inequality at Saint Cecilia’s and worked together to understand the challenges and issues that arose post 2020. We started running support and listening activities, such as ‘lean and listen’, and the response from pupils has been good. They feel able to talk about sensitive issues during PSHE lessons and during mentor times – having structured conversations in a way that is safe.

We aim to listen to and learn from the black community and supported by our Christian ethos, this can be done through the continuous development of the curriculum, challenging policy by opening up conversations at all levels of school leadership and governance about race, racism and racial stereotypes – exploring how Saint Cecilia’s might address racial equality in practice. We have one of the most diverse governing bodies in Wandsworth and we were intentional about the recruitment of people from GMH communities and women.

Black History Month has to evolve otherwise it just becomes an echo chamber. At Saint Cecilia’s we’ll be reading books by black authors and link this through to our focus to develop a curriculum that supports cultural inclusion and responds to the differences in pupils’ lives.

We tell pupils ‘you are known, you belong and you are loved’ – embracing each child, made in the image of God, a reminder that they are valued regardless of their background.

“Every day is an opportunity to shape futures, challenge injustice, and create spaces where young people can flourish”

I’ve spent my career working in education because I believe deeply in the transformative power of schools; not just as places of academic learning, but as spaces where young people discover who they are and what they can become. I’m passionate about equity, representation, and nurturing environments where every child, regardless of their starting point or personal situation, feels seen, valued, and inspired to thrive.

I was inspired to pursue a career in education by the teachers who saw potential in me before I saw it in myself. I’m Jamaican born and growing up in Jamaica, I attended Basic School – early childhood education from the ageof three. Ms Helen, my Basic School teacher was the first one that made me believe that I could be a teacher. Her belief and encouragement planted a seed that’s grown into a lifelong commitment to education. Teaching, for me, is a calling – it’s about service, legacy, and impact. Every day is an opportunity to shape futures, challenge injustice, and create spaces where young people can flourish. That’s a privilege I never take for granted. Education is central to identity, especially in the context of black history. It’s through education that we reclaim narratives, challenge stereotypes and affirm the richness of our heritage. When young black students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, in leadership, and in the stories we tell, it fosters a deep sense of belonging. The question “Who do you say that I am?” invites us to reflect on how others see us and how the way we see ourselves impacts this. Education plays a vital role in shaping that self-perception and being in an executive leadership position empowers me to have a voice in policy changes.

Black history is not just a month. However, in October, with the rest of the country, we’ll continue celebrating black history by centring voices, stories and achievements that too often go untold. That means assemblies, classroom discussions, creative projects and community events that honour the past while inspiring the future. At the Phoenix Federation – where I work, we will be having a celebration of different cultures where children and their parents will be showcasing important aspects of their culture through different media. Personally, I’ll also be taking time to reflect, read and engage with the wider community – because black history is not just a month, it’s a living, breathing part of who we are every day. I am black every day!

To read more about this year’s BHM service of Thanksgiving; and for more information about BHM services and events taking place across Southwark this month visit: southwark.anglican.org/black- history-month
You can also read a series of blog posts here: southwark.anglican.org/ news-events/news/blogs