Contents

1. Aims............................................................................................................................................ 2

2. Legislation and guidance........................................................................................................... 2

3. Roles and responsibilities......................................................................................................... 2

4. Eliminating discrimination........................................................................................................ 3

5. Advancing equality of opportunity........................................................................................... 3

6. Fostering good relations........................................................................................................... 3

7. Equality considerations in decision-making............................................................................. 4

8. Equality objectives.................................................................................................................... 4

9. Monitoring arrangements......................................................................................................... 5

10. Links with other policies......................................................................................................... 5

 Aims

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

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

2. Legislation and guidance

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.  

3. Roles and responsibilities

The governing board 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 head teacher

The head teacher will:

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

All school staff are expected to have regard to this document and to work to achieve the objectives as set out in section 8.

4. Eliminating discrimination

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 and governors 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 receive training on the Equality Act as part of their induction, and all staff receive refresher training every September if any changes need to be made to this document or if there are any changes to legislation.

5. Advancing equality of opportunity

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 (e.g. pupils with disabilities, or gay pupils who are being subjected to homophobic bullying)
• Taking steps to meet the particular needs of people who have a particular characteristic (e.g. enabling Muslim pupils to pray at prescribed times)
• Encouraging people who have a particular characteristic to participate fully in any activities (e.g. encouraging all pupils to be involved in the full range of school societies)

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 (e.g. declines in incidents of homophobic or transphobic bullying)
• Publish further data about any issues associated with particular protected characteristics, identifying any issues which could affect our own pupils

6. Fostering good relations

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

• Promoting respect, 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 and economic (PSHE) education, but also activities in other curriculum areas. For example, as part of teaching and learning in English/reading, pupils will be introduced to literature from a range of cultures
• Holding assemblies dealing with relevant issues. Pupils may be encouraged to take a lead in such assemblies, and we may also invite external speakers to contribute
• Working with our local community. This includes inviting leaders of local faith groups and those with no faith to speak at assemblies, 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. All pupils are encouraged to participate in the school’s activities, such as sports clubs. We also work with parents to promote knowledge and understanding of different cultures
• We are developing links with people and groups who have specialist knowledge about particular characteristics, which helps inform and develop our approach

7. Equality considerations in decision-making.

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 (where this is relevant)
• Is accessible to pupils with disabilities
• Has equivalent facilities for boys and girls

The school keeps a written record (known as an Equality Impact Assessment) to show we have actively considered our equality duties and asked ourselves relevant questions. This is recorded at the same time as the risk assessment when planning school trips and activities. The record is completed by the member of staff organising the activity and is stored electronically with the completed risk assessment. 

8. Equality objectives 2019-2023

Objective 1: Undertake an analysis of data and trends with regard to gender and disability for The Autumn term Full Governor meeting, and report on this to the Strategic sub-committee of the governing board.

Why we have chosen this objective:

To ensure that we are making the appropriate and necessary interventions for children with differing needs

To achieve this objective we plan to:

Analyse data that we have in school according to race, gender and disability.

Progress we are making towards this objective:

Will be discussed termly.

Objective 2: Have in place a reasonable  adjustment agreement for all staff and children with disabilities by The start of the Autumn Term, to meet their needs better and ensure that any disadvantages they experience are addressed.

Why we have chosen this objective:

We have a high proportion of children with a recognised disability in school and need to make sure we are meeting their needs.

To achieve this objective we plan to:

Look at the environment and the resources as well as the teaching and learning opportunities for these children and draw up an action plan after consultation with parents/carers.

Progress we are making towards this objective:

Will be discussed termly

Objective 3: Increase the representation of visitors into school from black and minority ethnic communities over a 4-year period (from this September to September in 4 years' time), so that these visits increase from 0% to 15% of the visitors.

Why we have chosen this objective:

Because our school has 100% white population with only a few children, families and visitors from minority ethnic communities.

To achieve this objective, we plan to:

Look at our long term curriculum plan and find opportunities for visits.

Progress we are making towards this objective:

Will be discussed annually

Objective 4: Train all members of staff and governors involved in recruitment and selection on equal opportunities and non-discrimination by the beginning of the next academic year. Training evaluation data will show that 100% of those attending have a good understanding of the legal requirements.

Why we have chosen this objective:

To ensure that all staff and governors have a sound understanding of the legislation and the reasons behind it.

To achieve this objective, we plan to:

Book training for governors and ensure it is well attended.

Progress we are making towards this objective:

Review at the end of the academic year 2019 2020

9. Monitoring arrangements

The head teacher will update the equality information we publish, described in sections 4-7 above, at least every year.

This document will be reviewed by the full governing board at least every 4 years.

This document will be approved by the governing board.

10. Links with other policies

This document links to the following policies:

• Accessibility plan
• Risk assessment