A primary school in Hampshire has cancelled this yr’s Easter events on the grounds that they might not align with the varsity’s “values of inclusivity and respect for diversity”.
Stephanie Mander, headteacher of Norwood Primary School in Eastleigh, wrote to folks informing them that the normal Easter service and Easter bonnet parade wouldn’t be happening this yr.
She said, “We understand that this alteration could also be disappointing for some, especially those that have cherished these traditions over time.
“However, we consider that this decision aligns with our values of inclusivity and respect for diversity.
“We are exploring alternative routes to rejoice the season in future years, that will probably be inclusive of all children and reflect the wealthy cultural diversity of our community.”
The decision has been criticised online, with some asking if Ms Mander can be planning on cancelling Christmas, or suggesting that events from all religions be celebrated, somewhat than cancelling all of them.
One commenter said, “I don’t get it personally. It’s an experience that’s in walking distance of the varsity. Parents have at all times been given the choice to not attend.”
It can be unclear what diversity Ms Mander is referring to. According to the 2021 Census, 45 per cent of Eastleigh residents discover as Christian while the identical proportion say they haven’t any religion. The next closest religions are Hinduism and Islam, which represent 1 per cent each of Eastleigh’s population.
When nationality is taken into consideration, Eastleigh appears to be much more homogenous, with 94.2% of Eastleigh residents saying within the Census that they discover as English, Welsh, British or some combination thereof. Only 4.4% identified as completely non-British.
