Equality Objectives

Public Sector Equality Duty 2021

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

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

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

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

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 Headteacher

The Headteacher will:

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

The Senior Management Team will:

Support the headteacher in promoting knowledge and understanding of the equality objectives amongst staff and pupils
Support the headteacher in identifying any staff training needs, and deliver training as necessary

All school staff are expected to have regard to this document and to work to achieve the equality objectives set out in line with the Equality Policy.

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.

Advancing equality of opportunity

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

Share 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 (e.g. enabling children, on request of parents, to be withdrawn from Eucharist Services)
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:

Analyse data to determine strengths and areas for improvement. Implement actions in response.
Make evidence available identifying improvements for specific groups (e.g. declines in incidents of homophobic language being used)

How does St Michael’s comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty?

The school has a range of policies that make explicit the school’s long established commitment to actively promoting equality of opportunity for all. The main policies that deal with equality of opportunity are:

British Values
Accessibility plan
Equality policy
SEND policy
Behaviour policy
Anti-bullying policy
Religious Education Policy

St Michael’s prides itself on being an inclusive school that cares for every individual child. In doing so, we promote and deliver a range of strategies to ensure that we comply to the Public Sector Equality Duty. Some of these are;

Promoting tolerance, individual liberty, friendship and understanding by actively promoting British Values through assemblies and workshops
Promoting tolerance, mutual respect and understanding through RE, PSHE and assemblies.
Taking steps to meet the needs of individuals – for example, withdrawal from prayer and worship and promoting friendship groups
Promoting inclusion, tolerance, friendship and understanding through different aspects of our curriculum. This includes teaching in RE, PSHE and other subjects.
In English, a variety of text from a range of cultures will be used.
Scientists, historians, artists, poets, engineers and designers who represent the protected characteristics will be embedded within the updated curriculum.
Ramp and access to the school premise and building eg toilets.
Leading on assemblies to explore and deal with relevant issues
Fundraising for many charities
Monitoring and evaluating the attainment and progress of all pupils; looking at the performance of particular groups who share a protected characteristic to compare their performance with those who do not share it.
Supporting all staff and children to reach their potential
Interventions to maximise the progress of all groups of children
Encouraging children to participate fully in all activities – for example; after school clubs, sport lunchtimes, choir
Curriculum trips that meet the needs of all children
Active promotion of the St Michael’s Behaviour policy
Active promotion of the St Michael’s Anti-bullying policy
Restorative justice – supporting any tensions between different groups of pupils within the school
ELSA trained staff and school FSA that children can speak to
Service level agreement with Play therapy
Pupil participation in school activities such as the School Council to ensure their voice is heard