At Newark Orchard School we are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity in line with the Equality Act of October 2010. We seek to demonstrate this through all aspects of school life and in particular through our commitment to every child, fulfilling their potential. This commitment applies to our work in the classroom, our pupil support systems, our recruitment and retention of staff and our work in the local and wider community.
As a school we will ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to achieve the very best that they are capable of and will also guide parents on how they can support their child’s achievement. Where pupils experience barriers to their success we will work with them to address these in a sensitive and sympathetic way.
Through our work in the classroom we will ensure that pupils understand the importance of equality and what forms discrimination can take and the impact discrimination can have. We will also seek to foster within our pupils their own commitment to promoting equality.
As an employer we will not discriminate on any of the following:
– Age
– Disability
– Gender re-assignment
– Race
– Religion and belief
– Sex
– Sexual orientation
– Marriage and civil partnership
Nor as a school or employer will we accept any of the following:
– Direct Discrimination
– Indirect Discrimination
– Discrimination by perception
– Associative discrimination
– Harassment
– Harassment by a third party
– Victimisation
As a school we also acknowledge the need to have objectives in order to ensure that we are able to address any areas where there are either inequalities or perceived inequalities. Our objectives are as follows:
– Continue to embed the DEIB Leader to critically assess whole school systems and efforts to ensure that we remain compliant with local and national legislative frameworks.
– To monitor the end of term data to evaluate progress and progression of learning across the curriculum and to audit attainment according to protected characteristics.
– Review the curriculum offer through the lens of overcoming potential barriers to engagement for our students within protected characteristic groups.
– Ensure staff have a clear understanding of the individual/protected characteristics of the young people they support.
– To educate students on the significance of the protected characteristics and their links to British values to develop knowledge and understanding.
The school Leadership Team and Local School Board review the school’s Equality Statement within the cycle agreed by local governors. Should any issues arise that mean that the statement needs amendments then these will be recommended for approval at the following LSB meeting.
