HASLINGDEN High School and Sixth Form has become the first high school in Rossendale and only the fourth in Lancashire to achieve the Lancashire Equality Mark.
Assistant Headteacher Karen Powell has led the school to successfully complete all six badges that make up the full award.
These reflect a commitment to embedding equality into all areas of school life and the following areas; sex, disability, socio-economic, sexual orientation and gender re-assignment and religion and belief.
The school marked achieving the standard by holding an Equality and Diversity Day for Year 7 students. This started with an assembly to explain the award and what it means for the school. Throughout the day students considered issues such as prejudice and discrimination as well as the importance of human rights.
In Expressive Arts, students learnt an anti-slavery song and made African masks.
At lunch they dined on Spanish food and had the opportunity to have their hands painted with henna. Students also had the opportunity to learn some languages beyond the ones studied in school. As a finale, students participated in a Bollywood dancing workshop.
Mrs Powell said: “We have been working towards the six strands over the last two academic years.
“As a school, we have always placed great emphasis upon the importance of respect for all members of our community but the award has encouraged us to go even further and ensure that our school is a welcoming and inclusive place to both study and work.
“Achieving the award is fantastic but is certainly not the end of our work in these areas.
“We are excited to continue to work with all students in school to ensure that every individual understands the importance of standing up against all forms of prejudice and discrimination both in school and as the students enter adult life.”
The school already has a thriving Pride and Allies Club run by teacher Lisa Southee.
She said: “Pride and Allies is a club that runs once a week but the ripples are seen throughout School life.
“We have worked positively and successfully with Senior Leadership Team who asked for members of the club to help adapt school policies, we have requested for the LGBTQ community be represented in class work and we are seen throughout the school building in art work and displays.
“The club is valued by staff and students and they speak highly of being able to socialise and come together as LGBTQ and allies.
“We are proactive in our charity work, we are united during our chats, we are supportive of each other and it is a joy to be part of such a wonderful club with such awesome humans.”
In Rossendale, two primary schools and a special school have also attained the Lancashire Equality Mark which was introduced in 2016.