Interview with Krisha Gandhi of Cranbrook Education Campus and Tom Pether of East Allington Primary School

​"I think if the Group could guide and inform educators on all levels to a greater awareness of the ideas behind inclusion to which we subscribe and provide information, evidence and actions, then this would be very helpful to guide people to look at themselves and to say, not in a pejorative way, but in a constructive, supportive and collaborative way.”

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For our June interview, we spoke to Krisha Gandhi and Tom Pether, joint Chairs of our SWIFT DEI Partnership Group formed this academic year to support SWIFT’s ongoing commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). The group meet each half term and will be presenting at the Summer Conference on Thursday 13 June 2024.

Krisha Kay Gandhi is Primary Headteacher and Senior Deputy Head of Campus at Cranbrook Education Campus, Exeter; having previously served as Director of Education and Primary Headteacher at Bishkek International IB World School in Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia whilst also supporting overseas school inspections in the Middle East. Krisha is a proud linguist having studied Mandarin Chinese at the School of Oriental and African Studies and she also learned Spanish and Russian to support the communities with whom she has worked. With an MA in Educational Leadership and Policy and a Master's in Business Administration, Krisha is keen to grow leaders who understand the bigger picture of school leadership and the transformational impact this can have. 
 
Tom has been Headteacher of Allington Primary School for the past eight years and as well as teaching all subjects, Tom is the Curriculum Design Lead for History for Multi Academy Trust, Education South West. Tom began his teaching career as a teacher before his role as Headteacher at Blackawton Primary until his current position at Allington. Tom’s love of History has led to his involvement with SWIFT Teacher Training as History Lead and he previously undertook a research project for the former NCSL and in the wider community, is supporting visitor attraction, Box Plymouth. At the end of this term, Tom is working with Sarah Frame to host a conference on sustainability and climate change.

1. What number one action/support for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion would you like to see across Schools and Trusts?
Tom: I think the first thing is an acknowledgement that it is more nuanced, complex and involved than ticking a box and saying we are diverse and I think people need to see that there is more action that needs to be taken in terms of actually making change.
It is not something that is going to happen by an external organisation giving you some suggestions. Nor is it going to be done by Government. It needs to be done by organisations who scrutinise very closely and question their own behaviours to make some changes.
 
So, I think the first action would be for people to say, this is complicated, we are not good enough and then they will hopefully take some more actions because I do not think we are always good enough down in the South West, but we need to be in that place first so that we can move forward. 
 
Krisha: I love how Tom uses 'we' to discuss action in this area. I think this is one of the important nuances of effective Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work. Since this is an area, we are all working to improve, there is a great opportunity for collaboration. I would like to see leaders collectively set the tone for the importance of DEI in our learning and working environments across all schools, trusts, and organisations in the region. By having a group of Trustees, Directors, Heads, or Governors commit to reflecting on our biases, examining our language, and evaluating the inclusiveness of our practices, we can create more considerate schools and workplaces. From my experience, as a British South Asian school leader, my sense of belonging definitely increases when I know I am working with a team who are not only willing to, but keen to, hear all voices in their community. 
 
2. Have you experienced any barriers to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in your professional lives as leaders and teachers? If so, how have you overcome this/these barrier (s)?
Tom: Well, for a start I am a white middle class male and I am the most privileged person on the planet in that context, so I have not experienced any barriers. But I think the thing that I have learned over time is to be able to see my white middle class male privilege and to see it for what it is and to take note that it is part of an unfair system, and I should not have it.
 
Krisha: Having come from a working-class background, and being a female, person of colour who is also gay; discrimination has been a constant feature of my lived experience - as a teacher, leader and in my day-to-day life too. Rather than discussing the barriers in specific, it is important to share the support mechanisms and tools that allow me to better cope. I think it is important to acknowledge that the barriers do not often feel overcome, but rather, there has been a resilient persistence to survive within them.
 
The tools that have helped me are: 

• my own voice and using it to challenge systems and, at times, leaders who influence these systems.

• friends and family who are willing to listen after a tough day when discrimination has felt strife. 

• a supportive line manager who asks, 'how can I help' without thinking they can completely and independently solve the problem.

• seeing successful and diverse representation even if in other sectors - for example, I think British Film and TV has come a long way in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and is a sector Education can learn from. 

• the vision and belief that our world can be more just and fair; as leaders, we should see ourselves as agents of positive change, and this purpose in itself can keep us moving forward despite the difficulties. 

3. What do you hope to gain personally from your involvement with the SWIFT DEI Partnership Group?
Tom: Once again, I think for me personally, it is, challenging, as I said before, my white middle class, male preconceptions of the world; which I think is healthy for me. It is also getting me to look at myself closer and to question my ethics, beliefs and actions. It is really fascinating working with different intelligent people in the Group who have wonderful ideas about how to change things and I find the idea of change, especially in terms of equity and justice, very energising. Plus, I believe that if we are going to leave this world a better place, we need to be active in that change process.
 
Krisha: I agree with Tom! I would summarise the ideal goal or gain to be supportive connections and a sense of belonging. 
 
4. What do you believe will be the most beneficial role of the SWIFT DEI Partnership Group?
Tom: I think if the Group could guide and inform educators on all levels to a greater awareness of the ideas behind inclusion to which we subscribe and provide information, evidence and actions, then this would be very helpful to guide people to look at themselves and to say, not in a pejorative way, but in a constructive, supportive and collaborative way, because nobody likes someone who is going to browbeat them and tell them off. But rather in a collaborative and informative way.
 
Krisha: I think it is important we are a group that listens. This is something not everyone will experience, yet among their own colleagues in order to hear diverse viewpoints across our region will be essential. Secondly, I would say we need to be a convening power i.e. looking at how we can support the provision of high-quality training to different pockets of our region or considering how we can share best practice across our schools and communities. 
 
5. How do you envisage the evolution of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion generally in education over the next ten years?
Tom: I would see it hopefully as something, particularly in the South West, where we are actively taking steps to catch up with the demographic of this country in teacher training, in the way that we approach our curriculum, and work with children ultimately to support them to grow up in a world that is more inclusive, less binary, less divisive and less vulnerable to the kinds of people who seem to be getting into power all over the world.

Krisha: In reality, our work in DEI will not be complete in 10 years, so we have to think about what is achievable in that time which is not happening now, which would be a step in the right direction. For me, this - especially in the South West - would be a developed and critical understanding of the intersectional experiences between and across all protected characteristics whilst also bringing class, and a focus on working class experiences, into the conversation.
 
If done well, I believe this could result in increased representation in leadership roles, earlier identification and understanding of the core issues affecting vulnerable children, young people and families, and a positive trajectory from saying the right things to doing the right things. Finally, I do believe that, in 10 years, we have the power to create an environment in which people from diverse and vulnerable backgrounds can demonstrably see and access aspirational choice and opportunity. 
 
We thank Krisha and Tom for their thoughtful interview and continued leadership of the SWIFT DEI Partnership Group.

Interview by Jude Owens, SWIFT Executive Assistant