What is EARA?

The Hampshire Equality and Rights Advocates (EARA) are a group of students from secondary and primary schools across the county who work collaboratively to promote equality and child rights in their schools, based on the nine protected characteristics of the Equality Act and the UNCRC. They present to students, teachers, governors and parents in their school communities and come together once a term to share their work and discuss ways forward. There are currently 86 EARA groups and we are part of the Basingstoke and Deane Group.

The children come together at local schools each term, to discuss the challenges children may face and then take this information back to schools. Together, the analyse the current provision and seek to make appropriate and informed adjustments to the day-to-day lives of our children.

In the Autumn Term, the children  travelled to Hatchwarren Junior School to meet up with other EARA groups from Basingstoke and Deane.  The focus was on gender equality and breaking stereotypes. They were really engaged and, as a result, have taken an active role in addressing any unconscious bias within our current RSE curriculum. An assembly is also in the pipe line to challenge the thinking around professions in the wider community.

This term, we travelled all the way to Woolton Hill, just beyond Newbury! The journey was beautiful and we enjoyed seeing the pheasants running along the hedgerows!

The focus of this meeting was about being kind. The children looked at how all people are unique - just like these stones. Marsell was particularly insightful, sharing how, just like the stones, people change over time...

Our focus this term at school, as a result, will be to see how we can promote kindness throughout our school.

Did you know?

Kindness was chosen by an overwhelming majority (61%) of children expressing a preference among the three shortlisted Children’s Word of the Year contenders (kindness, artificial intelligence, and conflict).