Equality Policy

We believe that the Equality Act provides a framework to support our commitment to valuing diversity, tackling discrimination, promoting equality and fostering good relationships between people. It also ensures that we continue to tackle issues of disadvantage and underachievement of different groups represented in the school.

Our school aims to meet its obligations under the public sector equality duty by having due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate discrimination and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act 2010 was introduced to ensure protection from discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of specific characteristics (referred to as protected characteristics). This means that schools cannot discriminate against pupils, staff, parents and carers or treat them less favourably because of their sex (gender), race, disability, religion or belief, gender identity, sexual orientation or pregnancy or maternity. Age and marriage and civil partnership are also “protected characteristics”, which are covered by this policy, but not as part of the school provisions related to pupils.
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
• Foster good relations across all characteristics – between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

This requires all public organisations, including schools to:

• Publish information to show compliance with the Equality Duty.
• Publish Equality objectives at least every 4 years which are specific and measurable.

This document meets the requirements under the following legislation:

• The Equality Act 2010, which introduced the public sector equality duty and protects people from discrimination.
• The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011, which require schools to publish information to demonstrate how they are complying with the public sector equality duty and to publish equality objectives.

This document is also based on Department for Education (DfE) guidance: The Equality Act 2010 and schools. This document also complies with our funding agreement and articles of association.

The Proprietor will:

• Ensure that the equality information and objectives as set out in this statement are published and communicated throughout the school, including to staff, pupils and parents, and that they are reviewed and updated at least once every four years.
• Delegate responsibility for monitoring the achievement of the objectives on a daily basis to the Headteacher.

The member of staff will:

• Meet with the designated member of staff for equality and other relevant staff members, to discuss any issues and how these are being addressed.
• Ensure they’re familiar with all relevant legislation and the contents of this document.
• Attend appropriate equality and diversity training.

The headteacher will:

• Promote knowledge and understanding of the equality objectives amongst staff and pupils.
• Monitor success in achieving the objectives and report back to the Proprietor.

The designated member of staff for equality will:

• Support the Headteacher in promoting knowledge and understanding of the equality objectives amongst staff and pupils.
• Support the Headteacher in identifying any staff training needs, and deliver training as necessary.

All school staff are expected to have regard to this document and to work to achieve the objectives as set out in section 9.

The school is aware of its obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and complies with non-discrimination provisions.

Where relevant, our policies include reference to the importance of avoiding discrimination and other prohibited conduct.

Staff are regularly reminded of their responsibilities under the Equality Act, for example during meetings.

Where this has been discussed during a meeting, it is recorded in the meeting minutes. New staff will receive training on the Equality Act as part of their induction, and all staff will receive refresher training every September.

The school has a designated member of staff for monitoring equality issues through Arbor for ‘abuse/action’ incidents. They liaise regarding any issues and make senior leaders and headteacher aware of these as appropriate.

As set out in the DfE guidance on the Equality Act, the school aims to advance equality of opportunity by:

• Removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people which are connected to a particular characteristic they have.
• Taking steps to meet the particular needs of people who have a particular characteristic.
• Encouraging people who have a particular characteristic to participate fully in any activities.

In fulfilling this aspect of the duty, the school will:

• Publish attainment data each academic year showing how pupils with different characteristics are performing.
• Analyse the above data to determine strengths and areas for improvement, implement actions in response and publish this information.
• Make evidence available identifying improvements for specific groups.
• Publish further data about any issues associated with particular protected characteristics, identifying any issues which could affect our own pupils.

The school aims to foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not share it by:

• Promoting tolerance, friendship and understanding of a range of religions and cultures through different aspects of our curriculum. This includes teaching in RE, citizenship and personal, social, health education (PSHE), but also activities in other curriculum areas. For example, as part of teaching and learning in English, pupils will be introduced to literature from a range of cultures.
• Holding assemblies dealing with relevant issues. Pupils will be encouraged to take a lead in such assemblies and we will also invite external speakers to contribute.
• Working with our local community. This includes providing opportunities for leaders of local faith groups to meet with students, and organising school trips and activities based around the local community.
• Encouraging and implementing initiatives to deal with tensions between different groups of pupils within the school. For example, our school council has representatives from different year groups and is formed of pupils from a range of backgrounds. We also work with parents to promote knowledge and understanding of different cultures.
• We have developed links with people and groups who have specialist knowledge about particular characteristics, which helps inform and develop our approach.

The school ensures it has due regard to equality considerations whenever significant decisions are made. The school always considers the impact of significant decisions on particular groups. For example, when a school trip or activity is being planned, the school considers whether the trip:

• Cuts across any religious holidays.
• Is accessible to pupils with disabilities.
• Has equivalent facilities for all genders.

Objective 1: To continue to provide a school environment that welcomes, protects and respects everyone.

Objective 2: To raise levels of attainment in all subjects for vulnerable learners to ensure all learners achieve equally well. Use data analysis, pupil progress meetings, teacher’s performance management targets to ensure that any underachieving pupils are identified, and supportive intervention measures are put in place.

Objective 3: To ensure that all students are given the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the life of the school, particularly focusing on developing leadership opportunities for all students.

Objective 4: To continue to promote belonging, by using open-dialogue and education to address LGBT phobia, racism, sexism and other discriminatory language which may be used by students in and outside the school.

Senior leaders address these objectives in the School’s Improvement Plan.