Public Sector Equality Duty Statement for Alverton Community Primary School
January 2025 (Review date: January 2029)
Public bodies such as schools have a duty, under the 2010 Equality Act, to ensure they promote equality within their organisation and this statement sets out how we endeavour to achieve this at Alverton Community Primary School.
At Alverton Primary School, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where equality is at the heart of our community, in line with the 2010 Equality Act. This statement details our commitment to equality, which we view as both a legal obligation and a moral duty. Treating every individual with dignity and compassion is central to our school’s ethos.
Legal Framework and Commitment:
The Equality Act requires us to:
· Eliminate Discrimination: We actively work to identify and remove discrimination and other conduct prohibited by the Act, ensuring that our school is a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
· Advance Equality of Opportunity: We strive to create opportunities for all, ensuring that those with protected characteristics have the same chances as others to succeed and flourish.
· Foster Good Relations: We promote understanding and respect among all people, irrespective of their protected characteristics, nurturing a harmonious and supportive school community.
Protected characteristics include race, disability, sex, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, and gender reassignment. We recognize the equal status and rights of all individuals with these characteristics.
We also recognise the link between the way in which we treat people and the way we treat the environment in which we live, and the other species who share the planet with us. Our commitment to equality reflects our broader responsibility to the world and, as educators, we are in a unique position to instill these values in our pupils, preparing them for a responsible future.
Objectives:
Our equality objectives, grounded in human rights and dignity, include:
· To embed equality in our policies and practices, ensuring they reflect our commitment to fairness and inclusion.
· To encourage children to understand and commit to equality, equipping them with the skills to recognise and combat discrimination.
· To deepen the understanding of the strengths and needs of protected characteristic groups among children and staff.
· To regularly review and enhance our culture, policies, and practices to better advance equality and eliminate discrimination.
· To actively celebrate the diverse characteristics of our school community and the wider world, fostering an environment of respect and appreciation.
Principles into Practice:
The following list covers some of the main ways in which we seek to implement our moral and legal responsibilities to ensure equality within school. This is by no means an exhaustive list. There is a crossover between many of these elements, and although they are numbered for ease of reference, the order in which they are listed should not be seen as being in terms of degree of importance, and nor should each element be seen as a discrete unit. We believe that equality is an unquestionable principle, and these elements taken together are the basis on which we seek to demonstrate and promote this principle.
1. Policy Review: Our governing body systematically reviews policies to consider equal opportunity implications, ensuring they are accessible online and on request.
2. Progress and Attainment Analysis: We conduct thorough analyses of children’s progress and attainment, focusing on individual needs to ensure no group is disadvantaged.
3. Inclusive Curriculum: Our curriculum is designed to be inclusive, with necessary adaptations to meet the diverse needs of all students, ensuring equal access to learning opportunities.
4. Modelling Respect and Tolerance: We embody the values of respect and tolerance, actively teaching children to practice these values and addressing any instances of intolerance through education.
5. Supportive Environment: We cultivate a supportive atmosphere where children feel safe expressing concerns, emphasizing emotional intelligence and strong adult-child relationships.
6. Staff Support: We are attentive to staff needs, providing emotional support, flexible working arrangements, and accommodating personal commitments, particularly related to protected characteristics.
7. Parental Engagement: We maintain an open-door policy, encouraging parents to discuss concerns and building strong relationships that value the diversity of our community.
8. Cultural Awareness: Our assemblies and events incorporate significant world festivals and dates, enhancing cultural awareness and appreciation within our school community.
This statement is dynamic, reflecting our continuous commitment to equality and diversity. We regularly review and update it to ensure its effectiveness and relevance, keeping our practices aligned with our values and legal obligations.