Equality Objectives
The Equality Act 2010 replaced all existing equality legislation. It put in place a number of duties to ensure public bodies and schools have due regard to certain ‘protected’ groups.
The protected groups are:
- Age
- Gender reassignment
- Disability
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Gender
- Sexual orientation
- Pregnancy / maternity
The general duty is set out in Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. In summary all public bodies and schools must have due regard to the need to:
- Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
- Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
- Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. Schools have a legal requirement to prepare and publish one or more specific and measurable equality objectives which will help them to further the three aims of the Equality Duty.
In setting our objectives the school will:
- Set objectives that are appropriate to our size and circumstances.
- Set objectives that address the most pressing issues facing the protected groups, that fit the school’s needs and are achievable in an appropriate timescale.
- Align the objectives with the normal planning of the school, including self-evaluation and the school improvement plan.
Evaluation and Moderation of the Equality Objectives
The Governing Body will evaluate and moderate progress towards the objectives once per year. The Governing Body will ensure the school’s objectives are published every four years.
Equalities Statement and Aims
At Willow Park our school vision, ‘Be the Light!’ is central to all we do. We aim to teach our children to respect and value one another and to celebrate the differences that make us all unique. Our aim is for children to leave our school with the skills they need to be successful in modern Britain and to make a positive contribution in the world.
We are committed to ensuring equality of education and opportunity for all pupils, staff, parents and carers receiving services from the school, irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity and race, gender, gender identify and transgender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion and belief and sexual orientation. We aim to develop a culture of inclusion and diversity in which all those connected to the school feel proud of their identity and able to participate fully in school life.
We welcome the duties upon schools under the Equality Act 2010 to:
(a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010;
(b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it;
(c) foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
The achievement of pupils will be monitored by ethnicity, gender and disability and we will use this data to support pupils, raise standards and ensure inclusive teaching. We will tackle discrimination by the positive promotion of equality, challenging bullying and stereotypes and creating an environment which champions respect for all.