At St Mary’s CE Primary School, we are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for all pupils, staff, parents and carers irrespective of race, gender, disability, belief, sexual orientation, age or socio-economic background. We aim to develop a culture of inclusion and diversity in which all those connected to the school feel proud of their identity and ability to participate fully in school life.

We tackle discrimination through the positive promotion of equality, by challenging bullying and stereotypes and by creating an environment which champions respect for all.

We believe that diversity is a strength which should be respected and celebrated by all those who learn, teach and visit us.

Equality in Teaching and learning

We provide all our pupils with the opportunity to succeed and to reach the highest level of personal achievement. We do this by:

• Ensuring equality of access for all pupils and preparing them for life in a diverse society
• Using materials that reflect the diversity of the school, population and local community without stereotyping
• Promoting attitudes and values that challenge any discriminatory behaviour or prejudice
• Providing opportunities for pupils to appreciate their own culture and celebrate the diversity of other cultures
• Seeking to involve all parents in supporting their child’s education
• Utilising teaching approaches appropriate for the whole school population which are inclusive and reflective of our pupils.

Equality in Admissions and Exclusions

Our admissions arrangements are fair and transparent and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, religion, belief, disability and/or socio-economic background.

Equal Opportunities for Staff

All staff appointments and promotions are made on the basis of merit and ability and in compliance with the law. We are keen to ensure that the staffing of the school reflects the diversity of our community.

The school has a full and separate Equality Policy. Please consult this for further details if you wish.

Below is a list of legislation that was considered when preparing our policy:

The Equality Act (2006 and 2010) amended the requirements of the Equal Pay Act (1970(and the Sex Discrimination act

The Disability Discrimination Act (2005) • The Race Relations Act (1976)

The Race Relations Amendment Act (2000)

The Human Rights Act (2000)

The Children’s Act (2004) The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003

Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003.

Objectives

1. To promote cultural understanding and awareness, valuing and celebrating various cultures and religious beliefs amongst different ethnic groups within our school community
2. To actively close gaps in attainment and achievement between students and all groups of students; especially boys, students eligible for free-school meals, students with special educational needs and disabilities, looked after children and students from minority ethnic groups.
3. To ensure accessibility across the school for students, staff and visitors with disabilities, including access to specialist teaching
4. To provide role-models for all students, ensuring diversity in the staff body, visiting speakers and in leadership roles
5. To diversify the curriculum in all areas to ensure the positive representation of all protected characteristics across so that our students see and can be seen
6. To ensure the consistent recording, reporting and action by staff following incidents of discriminatory language and behaviour, including bullying
7. To review relevant school policies and publications to ensure they clearly reflect the aim of inclusivity