Diversity and inclusion as values in our school

In accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the Convention defining the Statute of the European Schools and the Policy Framework on the Well-Being of Pupils in the European Schools, the European School of Brussels IV (Laeken) has recently adopted a Charter for Diversity and Inclusion.

This Charter commits the School and all its stakeholders: management, pupils, teachers, educational advisors, assistants, administrative and ancillary staff, supervisors, parents, and partners including the APEEE and the ECASC (OIB).

The Charter is a declaration of principles and values shared by the school concerning diversity and inclusion. It is not a binding legal instrument. It is the concrete result of work undertaken as part of the Diversity@LAE strategic plan, supported by groups representing the different stakeholders.

Everyone is invited to familiarise themselves with it, put it into practice and respect it at all times.

The European School of Brussels IV (Laeken) adheres to a broad definition of diversity. Diversity includes differences of origin, gender, age, language, nationality, ethnicity, parental status, education, skills, abilities, religion, sexual orientation, political opinion, physical abilities or attributes, physical or mental disabilities, socio-economic status/social background, ways of working and behaving.

The diversity monitoring cell and its mandate

Another element of the Diversity Plan which was implemented by our school was the creation of a Diversity Monitoring Cell (DMC). Under the terms of the Diversity Charter, the main mission of the DMC is to be available to the school community for the management of any educational initiative or concerns relating to diversity and inclusion.

As part of its mission to serve the school community, the DMC takes two fundamental approaches: a proactive approach (awareness-raising and initiatives) and a reactive approach (management of conflict).

The DMC’s priority is to organise educational activities to raise awareness of diversity issues within the school community.

The DMC can be approached by any member of the school community in the event of a conflict relating to diversity and inclusion. This can be done by a pupil, a teacher, an advisor or a parent.

In 2023-2024, the DMC has appointed two diversity managers for the nursery and primary cycles and two managers for the secondary cycle, whose mission is to be the contact persons in the event of a conflict being reported or resources being mobilised to promote diversity and inclusion.

More information is available hereafter.