Burntwood Lane
Caterham
CR3 5YX
Tel: 01883 347818
Email: admin@destafford.org.uk
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Equal Opportunities Policy
Equality of opportunity is a fundamental right for all members of the de Stafford community. We are committed to developing the potential of all people associated with the school.
The aim of the policy is to ensure that individual diversity is valued and that rights and beliefs are protected, respected and tolerated. In order to guarantee that this occurs, we must make it an integral part of our thoughts, words and deeds. This policy is intended to have a direct and positive impact on the ethos of the school.
Through ongoing education and training we aspire to promote an increased awareness and understanding of real and important issues within the school community.
BACKGROUND
de Stafford School is a mixed comprehensive school, situated on the border between Surrey and Croydon. There are approximately 850 students on roll, with approximately 100 staff. The staff and students are predominately white European. The school benefits from having a small number of staff and students from other backgrounds such as: Chinese, Thai, Indian, Afro-Caribbean and Pakistani. There are a relatively small numbers within the school community who have English as a foreign language (less than 1%). The students and staff come from a range of socio-economic backgrounds. There are approximated 300 students on the Special Educational Needs register. Whilst the school is generally a harmonious community, we recognise the need to actively promote relationships between the various sections of society represented within the school.
1.AIMS AND VALUES
1.1 de Stafford School aims to promote equality for all students, staff, parents, carers and governors in all areas of school life, regardless of:
We aim to embrace the diversity of the community we serve and as such celebrate all groups represented within it.
1.2 de Stafford School aims to promote equality for all students, staff, parents and governors in all areas of school life. Discriminatory attitudes or actions are not tolerated. This is in line with the 1976 Race Relations Act and The Race Relation (Amendment) Act 2000 (Commission for Racial Equality). It covers both direct and indirect discrimination.
1.3 We promote the principles of fairness and justice for all through the education that we provide in our school. This policy applies to all students, staff, parent helpers, visitors or contractors to de Stafford College. This policy covers all aspects of school life including student admissions, teaching and learning, behaviour management, staff recruitment and career development, parental involvement and the role of the governing body. All members of the school community must be free from any form of harassment.
1.4 Each student should be held in equal esteem, but individual abilities and experiences should be taken into account. The aim is to provide all students with a well-balanced education. Students with special educational needs should have equal access to the whole curriculum, though there may need to be greater emphasis on Literacy, Numeracy or social skills for some students.
1.5 We constantly strive to remove any forms of indirect discrimination that may form barriers to learning.
1.6 We ensure that all recruitment, employment, promotion and training systems are fair to all, and provide opportunities for everyone to achieve.
1.7 We challenge stereotyping and prejudice whenever it occurs. Care is taken to ensure that no discriminatory material is used in the School.
1.8 We celebrate the cultural diversity of our community and show respect for all minority groups. Materials that celebrate and show different cultures and national origins will be used in all subjects, wherever possible.
1.9 We are aware that low self-image and ignorance can cause prejudice and stereotyping. Through positive educational experiences and support for each individual’s point of view, we aim to promote positive social attitudes and respect for all. This is a major aspect of the Citizenship and Personal, Health and Social Education schemes of work, and through the tutor period.
2 Race Equality
2.1 It is the right of all students to receive the best education the school can provide, with access to all educational activities organised by the College. We do not tolerate any form of behaviour that discriminates on the basis of race, colour and culture. All incidents of a racially motivated nature will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate sanctions applied. All incidents will be recorded through the conduct log. Support, respect, sympathy and understanding are shown to the victim. Following investigation and in appropriate circumstances, parents are informed by the senior member of staff if their child is either a perpetrator or victim.
2.2 We endeavour to make our school welcoming to all minority groups. Race, Colour and Culture will not be criteria for the admission of any student or recruitment of staff at any time. If at first we do not understand how certain customs and practices can be catered for we will rapidly endeavour to do so. We promote an understanding of different cultures through the topics studied by the children, and we reflect this in the displays of work shown around the school.
2.3 Our curriculum reflects the attitudes, values and respect that we have for minority ethnic groups. So, for example, the history curriculum includes studies of different cultures around the world and in the religious education curriculum all students will learn about the customs and beliefs of all major world religions. We aim to prepare students to take their place harmoniously in a multi-cultural and multi-racial society.
3 Rewards & Sanctions
3.1 The school recognises that students respond better to rewards than sanctions therefore we endeavour to praise children for good behaviour and showing respect for others.
3.2 Where a child or group has been unfair, unjust or discriminatory, sanctions may be required if the child or group have, in the judgement of the Headteacher, committed the act purposefully. However if, in the judgement of the Headteacher, the child or group committed the act without intending to cause harm or were themselves subject to unkind treatment by the victim, then a teaching intervention should be considered a priority, under the express understanding that no repeat of that type of behaviour would be tolerated again.
4 The Role of Every Member of Staff
4.1 Each member of staff takes responsibility to:
If the incident involves a member of staff a written statement should be given to the Headteacher. An interview by the senior member of staff with victim and then perpetrator will follow.
5 The Role of the Class teacher
The class teacher ensures they are aware of the background of all children they teach and that all students are treated fairly, equally and with respect. We do not discriminate against any child.
5.2 When selecting classroom materials, teachers pay due regard to the racial and cultural sensitivities of all members of the class. They will not knowingly provide material that is racist in nature. Teachers strive to provide material that gives positive images of ethnic minorities and that challenges stereotypical images of minority groups.
5.3 When designing schemes of work, teachers use this policy as a guide, both in the choice of topics to study, and in how to approach sensitive issues.
6 The Role of the Headteacher
6.1 It is the Headteacher’s role to implement the school’s Equal Opportunities Policy including the Race Equality policy and be supported by the governing body in so doing.
6.2 It is the Headteacher’s role to ensure that all staff are aware of the school policy on Race Equality, and are suitably trained to implement these guidelines fairly and consistently in all situations.
6.3 The Headteacher ensures that all appointment panels give due regard to this policy, so that no-one is discriminated against when it comes to employment or training opportunities and that all staff work in an environment that is free from harassment.
6.4 The Headteacher promotes the principle of equal opportunity when developing the curriculum, and promotes respect for other people in all aspects of school life, for example, in assembly, where respect for other people is a regular theme, and in displays shown around the school.
6.5 The Headteacher treats all incidents of unfair treatment and any discriminatory incidents with due seriousness.
6.6 The Headteacher monitors all incidents of discriminatory behaviour including racist incidents and that these are reported termly in the ‘Headteacher’s Report to Governors’. (Student Welfare Discipline & Support Committee).
7 The Role of Parents
7.1 Parents are expected to support the de Stafford School Equal Opportunities Policy.
7.2 Where a child has intentionally been unfair, unjust or discriminatory it is the expectation that parents will support the sanction applied, thus ensuring their child receives a clear and powerful message that that type of behaviour will not be tolerated at school or at home.
7.3 The school works collaboratively with parents, so children receive consistent messages about how to behave at home and at school.
7.4 If parents have any concern about the way that their child has been treated, they should contact the student’s form tutor or head of year initially.
8 The Role of Children
8.1 All children are expected to abide by this policy within school and travelling to and from school. 8.2 On witnessing an incident of discrimination, whether it is a friend who is the perpetrator or not, a student must report the incident.
8.3 A child who is a victim of discrimination must report it to a responsible adult.
9 The Role of Governing Body
9.1 The governing body has set out its commitment to Equal Opportunities in this policy statement, and it will continue to do all it can to ensure that all members of the school community are treated fairly and with equality.
9.2 The governing body seeks to ensure that all people are treated equally our school regardless of:
10 Monitoring and review
It is the responsibility of our governing body to monitor the effectiveness of the Equal Opportunities policy. The governing body does this by:
11 Communication and Promotion
11.1 This policy will be shared with all members of staff and governors. All members of staff will have access to a copy within the Staff Handbook. The Equal Opportunity Policy will form part of the staff induction process. Existing parents will be notified of the policy’s existence and a summary will be included in the Parents’ Handbook. Aspects of this policy will form part of the Home-School agreement. New parents will be made aware of aspects of this policy through the Home School agreement, the School Prospectus, the New Parents Evening and through informal discussion when touring the school. Supply teachers and contracted staff will be made aware through the Supply Teacher and Contractor Guidance Sheet.
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Download the Equal Opportunities Policy |
