VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM Chimmy Ngoma
how we can use it to better understand each other. After this, pupils across all year groups got involved in a range of different activities including a global greetings workshop, before looking at various cultural musical performances. Our students were able to get involved in several off-timetable activities, including a taste of Mandarin and Arabic language carousel, a cultural challenge task and quiz, a fun South African dance workshop and even an exciting Dhol drumming workshop. The Dhol, which is a double-sided barrel drum played mostly as an accompanying instrument in regional music forms is synonymous with Bhangra music which is very catchy and full of energy. The Dhol produces a loud and vibrant sound and is played with sticks. The session was extremely popular with the children, who enjoyed learning how to play the North Indian instrument which dates back to the 15th Century. The day of cultural discovery also involved an ‘East Meets West’ exploratory session looking at the many differences in medicines across the globe.
Did the children get to hear or learn from any special visitors during the day? It’s not enough to simply acknowledge that we come from different backgrounds. We must make space for each other, learn from each other, and celebrate the stories that shape who we are. On that basis, we also organised an interfaith panel discussion during the morning, which saw eight amazing speakers from different faiths and beliefs
come together in school to answer questions and share their experiences with the pupils. This gave a fascinating insight into our diverse community and the various cultural differences around us. The pupils were also fortunate to have heard from a powerful keynote speaker, Chimmy Ngoma, who is a successful podcast host, inspirational speaker and award-winning senior leader working in the financial services industry, who spoke to the pupils about her own culture, as well as covering more important matters around identity and racism.
On reflection, what have been the key takeaways from hosting this event? It was such an honour and a privilege to have hosted our school’s first ever Culture Day. We wanted to make an impact and to leave our pupils with some thought-provoking insights, plus it was also wonderful to celebrate the rich diversity of our community. Having said that, the day was about so much more than celebration. It was equally about creating space in our busy school day for deeper understanding and connection, while taking pride in who we are as individuals. By exploring and embracing the many cultures that shape our school community, we have taken meaningful steps towards a more inclusive and compassionate environment. I’m incredibly proud of our students and staff for engaging so wholeheartedly in this important day. We are very much looking forward to next year’s event.
September 2025
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