EQUALITY DUTY STATEMENT

 

INTRODUCTION

This document describes how Didcot Primary Academy intends to fulfil its responsibilities under the Public Sector Equality Duty with regard to its pupils and its workforce.

 

The Public Sector Equality Duty requires our Trust to publish information about Equalities, specifically taking the following groups into account.

 

PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS

 

1. Age
2. Disability
3. Sex (gender)
4. Race (ethnicity)
5. Pregnancy and Maternity
6. Religion and Belief
7. Sexual Orientation
8. Transgender
9. Marriage and Civil Partnership

 

The information we publish and analyse must be clearly linked to the three aims (General Duties) of the Public Sector Equality Duty.  General Duties are the things that schools aim to achieve.

 

GENERAL DUTIES

 

The three aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty are to:

 

1. Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act.
2. Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
3. Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

 

SPECIFIC DUTIES

The two specific duties of the Public Sector Equality Duty are intended to help schools meet the general duty. They are to:

 

1. Set Equality Objectives
2. Publish information

 

Much of the information and analysis will relate to the school improvement plan, evaluations and pupil data – we use this information to improve education for all groups in our academy.  We want to make sure we know which pupils are doing well and less well so we can plan and improve. The same applies to our employees.

 

We work hard to gather this information and it is already being used by our academies to develop their practice and improve outcomes for our pupils.  We will use information which tells us we could be doing better to plan for the future and include these actions in our Equalities Objectives.

 

More information can be found in our Equality Policy on this website.

 

DIDCOT PRIMARY ACADEMY EQUALITY OBJECTIVES

 

1. To ensure that all staff and governors are aware of current legislation relating to equality and diversity and that all governors and staff understand the Trust’s responsibility in this area

2. To monitor and analyse pupil achievement by race, gender and special educational needs or disability and act on any trends or patterns in the data that require additional support for pupils

3. To promote cultural understanding and awareness and tolerance of different religious beliefs between different ethnic groups within our academy communities

4. To raise levels of parental and pupil engagement in learning and academy life, across all activities, including regular attendance to ensure equity and fairness in access and engagement. We will aim to raise aspirations among children and parents and raise awareness of career options for all children, challenging gender stereotypes

5. To promote mental health awareness and develop appropriate interventions where necessary

6. Close gaps in progress between all groups of pupils, especially children eligible for the pupil premium and others. Ensure rates of progress for other groups such as pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, looked after children and pupils from minority ethnic groups are at least good.

7. Monitor the incidence of the use of homophobic, sexist and racist language by pupils in our academies

8. To annually review, revise and develop the curriculum so that it represents a diverse culture and society and encourages tolerance and respect.