Black History Month 2026
All the students have had assemblies to mark Black History Month, which is celebrated annually throughout October to recognise, value, and celebrate the historical and contemporary contributions of Black people to British society. We were honoured to receive a message from Baroness Lawrence to the students at FSG.
Message from Baroness Lawrence for the FSG community:
‘Stephen was a wonderfully ordinary young man with hopes and ambitions. He cared about others, wanted to make a difference and dreamed of becoming an architect. He should be remembered for the life he lived and the future he should have had, not only for the racist violence that took him from us. Nothing that followed, however important, can ever make up for the life that was taken.
Following Stephen’s murder, my family fought for truth and justice. The public inquiry into the police investigation found that it had been "marred by professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership". Its findings helped bring about important changes in law, policing and the way discrimination is understood. However, that work is far from finished. Racism continues to damage lives, and when prejudice is ignored or dismissed, it can grow into something far more dangerous. Through my work in Parliament and the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, I have continued to challenge institutional racism and help create opportunities for young people. I have tried to ensure that Stephen’s name is associated not only with the injustice done to him, but also with positive change. Justice for Stephen is about all of us having justice.
Each of you can play a part by listening to others, challenging prejudice and refusing to remain silent when someone is treated unfairly. Standing up for what is right does not mean carrying every struggle alone: support one another, seek help when you need it and remember the strength that comes from acting together.
I hope that learning about Stephen encourages you to use your voices, believe in your own futures and help build a fairer and more inclusive society.’