Equality Objectives 

These link to our rights respecting objectives

Objective 1: To monitor and analyse pupil achievement by race, gender and special educational need or disability and act on any trends or patterns in the data that require additional support for pupils.

Objective 2:To raise levels of attainment in phonics for vulnerable learners (FSM).

Objective 3:To continue to develop the HRE curriculum in consultation with different community groups and to  broaden the range of resources within school to promote equality of opportunity.

Public Sector Equality Duty

 Aims

Acacias CPS 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.

What is the Public Sector Equality Duty (the PSED)?

 The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies to promote equality.  The relevant protected characteristics are:

•  Age

• Disability,

• Gender reassignment

• Pregnancy and maternity

• Race

• Religion or belief

• Sex

• Sexual orientation

Advancing equality of opportunity

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

•  Analysing attainment data each academic year showing how pupils with different characteristics are performing

• Removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people which are connected to a particular characteristic they have (e.g. pupils with disabilities)

• 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 (e.g. encouraging all pupils to be involved in the full range of school activities)

What the School is doing to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010.

• Conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010 is detailed in the School Equality policy which is available to all members of the School community;

• The School’s Equality Policy and equality issues in the Trust are monitored by a nominated member of the Senior Leadership Team (Deputy Head);

• The School provides training to staff and Governors about their responsibilities under the Act and about equality issues.

• The School will make reasonable adjustments to the school environment and make activities as accessible and welcoming as possible for pupils, staff and visitors to the school;

• By planning ahead, all schools will ensure where reasonably possibly that all pupils are able to take part in all the activities in school including extracurricular activities and any residential visits.

• The School takes seriously the need to consider equality implications whenever policies and procedures are developed, adapted and reviewed and whenever significant decisions are made about the day to day life of the school.

• Equality considerations are taken into account in all School policies. The main policies that deal with equality of opportunity are

  • Accessibility plan

  • Equality policy

  • SEND policy

  • Behaviour Policy

  • Anti bullying Policy

  • Religious Education Policy

  • Health & Relationships Education Policy

  • Curriculum Intent Documents

• Bullying and prejudice related incidents are recorded, carefully monitored and dealt with effectively;

• The School will ensure that all appointment panels give due regard to equality issues so that no one is discriminated against when it comes to recruitment, promotion or training opportunities. The School will ensure that job applicants are not asked health related questions in accordance with the Act and the School’s Equality Policy unless they related to an intrinsic function of the work they do. The School will ensure that reasonable adjustments are made to the recruitment process as necessary;

• The School will consider any possible indirectly discriminatory effect of its practices when considering requests for contractual variations. Requests will only be refused if there are good business reasons unrelated to any protected characteristics in accordance with the School’s Flexible Working Requests Policy and Procedure;

• The School is committed to ensuring pupils understand that they belong to a society and a world that is diverse and multi-cultural. The School will regularly consider and review the way in which its teaching and the curriculum helps promote an awareness of the rights of individuals and helps pupils understand and value difference and diversity and to challenge prejudice and stereotyping.  The School will actively promote equality, diversity and fundamental British values though the curriculum and by creating an environment which demands respect for all.

What the School is doing to advance equality of opportunity between those who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not share it.

•  The School knows the needs of its population very well and collects and analyses data in order to inform planning and identify targets to achieve improvements;

• The School has procedures, working in partnership with parents and carers, to identify children who have a disability through admissions meetings;

• The School will take action to close any gaps in progress or achievement for example, for those making slow progress in acquiring age appropriate literacy and number skills;

• The School will collect, analyse and use data in relation to attendance and exclusions of different groups.

• The School will review information about staff recruitment, retention, training opportunities and promotion to ensure that all staff have equality of opportunity;

• The School will ensure that it engages and consults with those people who are affected by a policy or activity in the design of new policies and in the review of existing ones;

• The School will encourage pupils with particular characteristics to participate fully in school activities for example by encouraging both boys and girls and pupils from different ethnic backgrounds to be involved in the full range of school clubs and societies;

• The School has disabled access, disabled parking bays, and disabled toilets;

• The School is fully aware of the dietary requirements of ethnic groups within its schools and makes food for all of our pupils taking into account equality issues;

• The School will avoid language that runs the risk of placing a ceiling on any child’s achievement or that seeks to define their potential as learners, such as  “less able”. The School will use a range of teaching strategies that ensures it meets the needs of all children;

• The School will provide support to children at risk of underachieving;

• The School is alert and proactive about the potentially damaging impact of negative language in matters such as race, gender, disability and sexuality;

What the school is doing to foster good relations across all protected characteristics.

•  The School will prepare children for life in a diverse society and ensure that there are activities across the curriculum that promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of children;

• The School teaches about difference and diversity and the impact of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination through Health & Relationships Education (HRE) and across the curriculum (linked to Global Goals);

• The School will use materials and resources that reflect the diversity of the school population and local community in terms of race, gender, sexual identity and disability, avoiding stereotyping;

• The School promotes a whole-school ethos and values which challenge prejudice-based discriminatory language, attitudes and behaviour;

• The Schoolprovides opportunities for children to appreciate their own culture and celebrate the diversity of other cultures;

• The School includes the contribution of different cultures to world history that promote positive images of people;

• The School provides opportunities for pupils to listen to a range of opinions and empathise with different experiences;

• The School promotes positive messages about equality and diversity through displays, school assemblies, visitors and whole school events;

• The School will review relevant feedback from the annual parents’ questionnaires and from parents’ evening, from issues raised in Annual Reviews;

• The School will secure and analyse responses from staff surveys, staff meetings and training events review feedback and responses from the children and groups of children, from the school council, HRE lessons, and whole school surveys on children’s attitudes to self and school.