Equality Objectives Statement
Equality information and objectives
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Approved by: |
Governing body |
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Last reviewed on: |
September 2024 |
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Next review due by: |
September 2027 |
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Contents
2. Legislation and guidance. 3
3. Roles and responsibilities. 3
4. Eliminating discrimination. 4
5. Advancing equality of opportunity. 4
6. Fostering good relations. 5
7. Equality considerations in decision-making. 5
10. Links with other policies. 7
1. Aims
Our school aims to meet its obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) 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
Ensure that the published equality information is updated at least every year, and that the objectives are reviewed and updated at least every 4 years
Delegate responsibility for monitoring the achievement of the objectives on a daily basis to the headteacher
The headteacher will:
Promote knowledge and understanding of the equality objectives among 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.
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 minimizing disadvantages suffered by people that 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 staff 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 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
Analyze the data referenced above 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 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 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 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 inviting leaders of local faith groups to speak at assemblies, and organizing 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.
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 have developed 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
Is accessible to pupils with disabilities
Has equivalent facilities for boys and girls
As part of our risk assessment for trips and visits , we actively consider our equality duties and make adaptions to the plans if required.
8. Equality objectives
Objective 1
Have in place a reasonable adjustment agreement for all staff with disabilities , reviewed at least annually. This is so as to ensure that we meet their needs and make sure that any disadvantages they experience are addressed.
Why we have chosen this objective:
- We have several members of staff registered disabled and our focus on staff wellbeing has identified that the demands of the job have increased stress levels
To achieve this objective, we plan to:
- Identify all staff registered disabled. Meet with staff individually and discuss any requirements they have in terms of equipment, environmental adjustments, working time adjustments.
Objective 2
Ensure that the school’s accessibility plan is updated and regularly reviewed in line with the school community requirements (staff and children)
Why we have chosen this objective:
- The plan was updated summer term 2024
- The school was completed in 2019 but several areas require adults to support children in accessing the building
- The intake of children and adult changes frequently and evaluation is ongoing, the plan will be regularly updated to reflect the changing community
To achieve this objective, we plan to:
- Seek dual funding in order to make the physical changes to the building/site
- Monitor the intake of pupils and staff to ensure full access to the school grounds/building and make reasonable adjustments as required
9. Monitoring arrangements
The Governing Body will:
- Ensure that the published equality information is updated at least every year,
- Ensure and that the objectives are reviewed and updated at least every 4 years
- This document will be approved by the Finance, Facilities and Personal Committee of the Governing Body.
10. Links with other policies
This document links to the following policies:
Accessibility plan
SEND
Anti-Bullying
Curriculum
Safeguarding and Child Protection
Behaviour
Educational Trips and Visits
PHSE
SRE