The beauty of the world lies in the diversity of its people.

Our Equality Objectives 2021-22:

(Also see Pupil Premium Report and Covid-19 Recovery Plan)

Equality Objectives:

The Whiteoak Academies of Hannah More Infants and Grove Juniors are committed to promoting the welfare and equality for all its staff, children and other members of the school community. To achieve this, the school has established the following objectives:

• To ensure that equality and diversity are key threads throughout the life and work of the school and its curriculum, including its vision, values and aims so that children understand, appreciate and respect difference in the world and its people, including the things we share in common across cultural, religious, ethnic and socio-economic communities.
• To develop the children’s knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity, in its many forms, by ensuring the schools’ curriculum, choice of texts and environment are designed to promote and celebrate equality and diversity and address social disadvantage.
• To monitor changes to the curriculum to ensure they result in good outcomes for children in all groups, especially vulnerable groups.
• To continue to improve the quality of support to raise levels of attainment in core subjects for all children and especially vulnerable learners.
• To ensure that extra-curricular and enrichment opportunities are available to all, irrespective of background.
• To embed the British values of respect and tolerance (Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith).
• To continue to carefully assess and monitor the impact of Covid-19 on children’s learning and wellbeing. Review academic gaps and put provision in place to ensure any children disadvantaged by school closures make rapid progress. Ensure that support is in place for children’s wellbeing and that all families who have been impacted by Covid-19 have support from school and are signposted to external agencies as required.

Our Legal Duties

At the Whiteoak Academies of Hannah More Infants and Grove Juniors, we welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010. We are committed to anti-discriminatory practice to promote equality of opportunity and valuing diversity for all children and families. 

The school’s general duties, with regards to equality are:

• Eliminating discrimination.
• Fostering good relationships.
• Advancing equality of opportunity.

We will not discriminate against, harass or victimise any pupil, prospective pupil, or other member of the school community because of their:

• Age (for employees not for service provision),
• Gender (including issues of transgender),
• Race,
• Disability,
• Religion or belief,
• Sexual orientation,
• Gender reassignment,
• Pregnancy or maternity,
• Marriage and Civil Partnership (for employees)

We also welcome our duty under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to promote community cohesion. We recognise that these duties reflect international human rights standards as expressed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, and the Human Rights Act 1998.

In fulfilling our legal obligations we will:

• Recognise and respect diversity, in its many forms,
• Foster positive attitudes and relationships, and a shared sense of belonging,
• Observe good equalities practice, including staff recruitment, retention and development,
• Aim to reduce and remove existing inequalities and barriers,
• Consult and involve widely,
• Strive to ensure that society will benefit.

Our Vision and Approach to Equalities and Diversity

At the Whiteoak Academies, we aim to support children’s spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, with a special emphasis on promoting equality, diversity and eradicating prejudicial incidents for children and staff. Our school is committed to not only eliminating discrimination, but also increasing understanding and appreciation for diversity. We believe that a greater level of success from children and staff can be achieved by realising the uniqueness of individuals. Creating a prejudice-free environment where individuals feel confident and at ease is a commitment of the school. This environment will be achieved by:

• Being respectful,
• Always treating all members of the school community fairly,
• Developing an understanding of diversity, in its many forms, and the benefits it can have,
• Adopting an inclusive attitude,
• Adopting an inclusive curriculum that is accessible to all,
• Encouraging compassion and open-mindedness.

We are committed to having a broad and balanced curriculum. We believe that our children should be exposed to ideas and concepts that may challenge their understanding to help ensure that children learn to become more accepting and inclusive of others. Challenging and controversial concepts will be delivered in a way that prevents discrimination, and instead promotes inclusive attitudes. 

At the Whiteoak Academies of Hannah More Infants and Grove Juniors, our children are taught to be:

• Understanding of others.
• Celebratory of cultural diversity.
• Eager to reach their full potential.
• Inclusive.
• Aware of what constitutes discriminatory behaviour.

The school’s employees will not:

• Discriminate against any member of the school.
• Treat other members of the school unfairly.

The school’s employee’s will:

• Promote diversity equality.
• Encourage and adopt an inclusive attitude.
• Lead by example.

Addressing Prejudice Related Incidents

The Whiteoak Academies do not tolerate any form of prejudice-related incident. Whether direct or indirect, we treat discrimination against all members of our school with the utmost seriousness. We recognise that children and young people who experience any form of prejudice related discrimination may fair less well in the education system. We provide both our children and staff with an awareness of the impact of prejudice in order to prevent any incidents. If incidents still occur we address them immediately and report them to the MAT/Local Authority using their guidance material.

Equality considerations in decision-making

The school ensures it has due regard to equality considerations whenever significant decisions are made.

The school always considers the impact of significant decisions on particular groups. For example, when a school trip or activity is being planned, the school considers whether the trip:

• Cuts across any religious holidays,
• Is accessible to pupils with disabilities,
• Has equivalent facilities for boys and girls.

Responsibilities

We believe that promoting Equality is a whole school responsibility:

School Community	Responsibility
Governing Body	Involving and engaging the whole school community in identifying and understanding equality barriers and in the setting of objectives to address these. Monitoring progress towards achieving equality objectives. Publishing data and publishing equality objectives.
Executive Headteacher	As above including: Promoting key messages to staff, parents and pupils about equality and what is expected of them and can be expected from the school in carrying out its day to day duties. Ensuring that all of the school community receives adequate training to meet the need of delivering equality, including pupil awareness. Ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibility to record and report prejudice related incidents.
Senior Leadership Team	To support the Executive Headteacher as above. Ensure fair treatment and access to services and opportunities. Ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibility to record and report prejudice related incidents.
Teaching Staff	Help in delivering the right outcomes for children. Uphold the commitment made to children and parents/carers on how they can be expected to be treated. Design and deliver an inclusive curriculum. Ensure that they are aware of their responsibility to record and report prejudice related incidents. School Community Responsibility.
Non-Teaching Staff	Support the school and the governing body in delivering a fair and equitable service to all stakeholders. Uphold the commitment made by the Executive Headteacher on how children and parents/carers can be expected to be treated. Support colleagues within the school community. Ensure that they are aware of their responsibility to record and report prejudice related incidents.
Parents	Take an active part in identifying barriers for the school community and in informing the governing body of actions that can be taken to eradicate these. Take an active role in supporting and challenging the school to achieve the commitment given to the school community in tackling inequality and achieving equality of opportunity for all.
Children	Support the school to achieve the commitment made to tackling inequality. Uphold the commitment made by the Executive Headteacher on how children and parents/carers, staff and the wider school community can be expected to be treated.
Local Community Members	Take an active part in identifying barriers for the school community and in informing the governing body of actions that can be taken to eradicate these. Take an active role in supporting and challenging the school to achieve the commitment made to the school community in tackling inequality and achieving equality of opportunity for all.