DEIB Lead recognised with inaugural Lightkeeper Award

Published by Chigwell School on Tuesday 13th of October 2026

Congratulations to Agnes Ochana, our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Lead, who has been recognised with the inaugural Lightkeeper Award for Excellence in Equity from Being Luminary.

The Lightkeeper Award celebrates individuals who champion equity, inclusion and belonging within their schools, often alongside their existing roles. Agnes was one of the first six recipients of the award, joining colleagues from schools across the UK and internationally who have demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing this work within their communities.

Alongside her roles as Teacher of Physics and House Mistress, Agnes has led the development of Chigwell’s Belonging and Inclusion strategy, helping to strengthen inclusive practice across School culture, professional learning, policies and systems.

Over the past year, Agnes has introduced and developed a range of initiatives to strengthen inclusion and belonging across the school. Her work has included:

· Developing Chigwell’s Belonging and Inclusion strategy and supporting colleagues to embed inclusive practice across the school.

· Creating guidance on Identity-Based Harm, bringing together the school’s approach to addressing prejudice and discrimination.

· Leading the implementation of Hemisphere, a racial and cultural literacy programme supporting pupils and staff to develop greater understanding, empathy and awareness of bias.

· Establishing a DEI staff working group and supporting Senior and Middle Leadership Teams with DEI training through Being Luminary.

· Strengthening pupil voice, including supporting Equality Ambassadors to lead assemblies around key awareness events.

Central to Agnes’s approach is the belief that every member of the Chigwell community should feel seen, heard and valued. Her work reflects the school’s commitment to welcoming pupils from all backgrounds and creating an environment where everyone can feel happy, respected and able to engage fully in School life.

This work closely reflects Chigwell’s core values, particularly our Community of Kindness, Happiness First and Lifelong Learning, and plays an important role in strengthening a culture of belonging across Chigwell.

Congratulations, Agnes, on this well-deserved recognition!