Equality and Inclusion

Equality Information and Objectives - Information for school website Public Sector Equality Duty (Updated March 2021)

Public Sector Equality Duty

We maintain and publish quantitative and qualitative information showing our compliance with the public sector duty (PSE) set out in clause 149 of the Equality Act 2010.

The Equality Act 2010 requires academies to publish information that demonstrates that we have due regard for the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct 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 between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

St. Oswald’s CE Primary is an inclusive school where we focus on the well-being and progress of every child and where all members of our community are of equal worth.

We believe that the Equality Act provides a framework to support our commitment to valuing diversity, tackling discrimination, promoting equality and fostering good relationships between people. It also ensures that we continue to tackle issues of disadvantage and underachievement of different groups.

Our approach to equality is based on the following key principles:

1. 1. All learners are of equal value

1. 2. We recognise and respect difference

1. 3. We foster positive attitudes and relationships and a shared sense of cohesion and belonging.

1. 4. We observe good equalities practice in staff recruitment, retention and development.

1. 5. We aim to reduce and remove inequalities and barriers that already exist.

1. 6. We have the highest expectations of all our children.

Equality Information

Number of pupils on roll at the school:108

Age of pupils: 3 to 11

Information on pupils by protected characteristics

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics. Every person has several of the protected characteristics, so the Act protects everyone against unfair treatment. In order to ensure that all pupils are protected from discrimination, the school collects information on protected characteristics.

Information on other groups of pupils

In addition to pupils with protected characteristics, we gather further information on the following groups of pupils:

• Pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM)
• Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
• Disadvantaged group
• Pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL)
• Young carers
• Looked after children
• Other vulnerable groups

It may be possible to identify individuals from the information provided when the number of pupils with a particular characteristic is low and the information is sensitive personal information. In these cases we have indicated this by an asterisk*.

Through rigorous tracking and monitoring of individuals and of all the groups of children, including progress and attainment, and by providing equal opportunities to access the curriculum and activities, we aim to ensure that any gap in attainment for pupils within any of the above different groups is removed, or at least remains less than the gap nationally.

Eliminating discrimination and other conduct that is prohibited by the Act

The information provided here aims to demonstrate that we give careful consideration to equality issues in everything that we do at St. Oswald’s Primary School. ‘Due regard’ ensures that we work towards eliminating discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act.

We are committed to working for equality for all our staff, parents/carers and children to meet our duties under the Equality Act 2010.

We eliminate discrimination by:

• Our behaviour policy ensures that all children feel safe at school and addresses prejudicial bullying
• Reporting, responding to and monitoring all racist incidents
• Regularly monitoring the curriculum to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of our pupils and that it promotes respect for diversity and challenges negative stereotyping
• Teaching is of the highest quality to ensure children reach their potential and all pupils are given equal entitlement to success
• Tracking pupil progress to ensure that all children make rapid progress, and intervening when necessary
• Ensuring that all pupils have the opportunity to access extra-curricular provision
• Listening to and monitoring views and experiences of pupils and adults to evaluate the effectiveness of our policies and procedures.
• Maintaining our status as a Rights Respecting School

Advancing equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

We advance equality of opportunity by:

• Using the information we gather to identify underachieving groups or individuals and plan targeted intervention
• Ensuring participation of parents/carers and pupils in school development
• Listening to parents/carers
• Listening to pupils at all times

Fostering good relations across all characteristics - between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

We foster good relations by:

• Ensuring that St. Oswald’s CE Primary School is seen as a role model for equality and inclusion within our local community. Ensuring that equality and diversity are embedded in the curriculum and in collective worship.

Equality Objectives

At St. Oswald’s CE Primary School, we are committed to ensuring equality of education and opportunity for all pupils, staff, parents and carers, irrespective of race, gender, disability, belief, religion or socio- economic background.

In order to further support pupils, raise standards and ensure inclusive teaching, we have set the following objectives.

Objective 1: To raise levels of attainment for all learners, irrespective of race, gender, disability, sexuality, vulnerability or socio-economic status.

Objective 2: To promote understanding and respect for differences through our Rights Respecting school status and Global learning partnership.

Objective 3: To mental health and well-being through curricular and extra-curricular opportunities.

Objective 4: To develop pupils spiritual, social, emotional and moral understanding through promoting strong moral beliefs including British and Christian values.