Equalities Statement

The Equality Statement sets out the approach that our school is taking to meet the general and specific requirements of Public Sector Equality.

Duty introduced by the Equality Act 2010. By placing an equality perspective in all of our policies and practices, we recognise that we are not thinking about people as an homogenous group but as distinct groups with differing needs, characteristics and behaviours. This enables us to address the issues in creating an inclusive whole school environment.

Deepcar St John’s CE Junior School has developed this Equality Statement to help us to meet our Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act 2010 has simplified anti-discrimination laws by having a single equality Act. This makes it easier for people to understand and comply with the law. The 2010 Act has also strengthened protection in some situations.

The Equality Act covers all aspects of school life such as the treatment of:

  • pupils and prospective pupils

  • parents and carers

  • employees

  • local community

There are nine protected characteristics covered by the Act under which it is unlawful to treat people unfairly. The protected characteristics are:

  • age

  • disability

  • gender reassignment

  • marriage and civil partnership

  • pregnancy and maternity

  • race

  • religion or belief

  • sex

  • sexual orientation

Every person has one or more of the protected characteristic; therefore the Act protects everyone against unfair treatment. The Equality Act makes it unlawful to treat someone differently, either through direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, victimisation and by failing to make areasonable adjustment for a disabled person. Since 6 April 2011 all public bodies including local authorities, schools, colleges and other state-funded educational settings including academies have been bound by the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Age applies to a school as an employer, but not with regard to the treatment of pupils and prospective pupils. We are bound by the Public Sector Equality Duty to have due regard to the need to:

(a) eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation

(b) advance equality of opportunity; and

(c) foster good relations

Equality Statement The general duty is supported by specific duties, these are to:

  • Publish information which demonstrates our compliance with the duty to have due regard for the three aims of the general duty and to annually repeat this.

  • Prepare and publish our specific and measurable objectives to achieve the three aims of the duty and undertake this no later than in four years time.

Leadership

Within our school all staff and Governors at the school are responsible for ensuring that the school meets its duties under the Equality Act 2010.

Eliminating harassment and bullying. Deepcar St John's will not tolerate any form of harassment and bullying of pupils or our staff.

Training

We will provide relevant training by using all suitable delivery methods.

Procurement and Contractors

We will take steps to ensure that contractors working at the school operate within the requirements of our Equality Statement.

Visitors to the School

We will take steps to ensure that all visitors to our school including parents act within the requirements of our Equality Statement.

Publishing the Statement

We will publish our statement as a separate policy within school; on the school network; and upon the school’s website.

Reporting our progress

We will report progress against the Duty through our regular reporting mechanisms, to the Full Governing Board of the school.

Reviewing and Revising the Equality Statement

Last review - December 2022

We will review and revise the Statement no later than four years from publication of this statement. The primary aim of Deepcar St John’s CE Junior School is to enable all pupils to take part as fully as possible in every part of school life by developing each child’s self-confidence, recognising their strengths and encouraging them to achieve their full potential and success.

Equality_Information and Objectives Statement.pdf

Our Equalities statement - Dated December 2022

Equality_Information and Objectives Policy.pdf

September 2021

• Bullying and Prejudice Related Incidents will be carefully monitored and dealt with effectively. Regular training will be given to both existing and new staff to ensure that they are aware of the process for reporting and following up incidents of prejudice- related bullying.

• We expect that all staff will be role-models for equal opportunities, deal with bullying and discriminatory incidents and be able to identify and challenge prejudice.

• Throughout the year, the school will plan on-going activities e.g. lessons and assemblies to raise awareness of equality and diversity. This may include a focus on disability, respect for other cultures, religions and beliefs, anti-homophobia, gender equality, developing community cohesion and an understanding of the effects of discrimination.

• We will regularly seek the views of pupils, parents, advisory staff and visitors to the school, to ensure that the school environment is as safe and accessible as possible to all school users.

• We will regularly review our accessibility plans.

• The school welcomes a diverse range of candidates for positions at any type of role or level of responsibility in school.

• We will ensure that all staff are aware of their legal duties under the Equality Act 2010, the different forms of discrimination and what ‘reasonable adjustments’ mean in practice. Training and awareness sessions will be set out in the school improvement plan.

• When drawing up policies, the governing body must consider to what extent a new/revised policy, practice or plan meets the Public Sector Equality Duties (eliminates discrimination, advances equality and fosters good relations for all the protected characteristics) and recommend changes/mitigations should it feel the policy, practice or plan could be improved to fulfil the school’s duties.