Public Sector Equality Duty
Public bodies, including local-authority-maintained schools, are covered by the public sector equality duty in the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act 2010 requires us to demonstrate 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
As part of our duties we publish:
- An Equalities Information Profile (2023-2024) of our school based upon the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 – this is updated and published every year (this academic year’s is coming soon)
- Our school’s Equality Action Plan (Objectives)* are woven into whole school strategic documents and are reviewed annually
- For further information please view or download our Single Equalities Scheme (2022 – 2026)
*This policy clearly indicates in which strategic documents the equality objectives can be found.
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 vulnerable groups.
Our approach to equality is based on the following key principles:
- All members of our school community are of equal value and equality is practised in everything we do
- We recognise, respect and celebrate diversity
- We foster positive attitudes and relationships and a shared sense of cohesion and belonging, through our culture of being Ready, Respectful and Safe
- We aim to reduce and remove inequalities and barriers that already exist
- We have the highest expectations of all our children and are ambitious for every individual in the school community
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
Eliminating discrimination and other conduct that is prohibited by the Act
The information provided here aims to demonstrate that we consider equality issues in everything that we do at Applegarth Primary School. Our vision and values ensure that we work towards eliminating discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act.
We eliminate discrimination by:
- Adoption of the Single Equality Scheme and Equality Action Plan
- Our behaviour policy ensures that all children feel ready, respectful and safe at school and addresses prejudicial bullying immediately and effectively
- 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 swiftly 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
- 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 Applegarth Primary School is seen as a key contributor in our local community
- Ensuring that equality and diversity are embedded in the curriculum and in collective worship
