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Equality objectives 2023-24

Equality and Diversity

Objectives

Policy details

Date created - September 2023
Date reviewed - August 2023
Date approved - October 2023
Next review date - September 2024
Policy owner - R Aasim

Introduction
Statement
Actions Taken
Objectives
Further information

Introduction

As part of the The Trust’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy, the Trust lists a number of things academies within the Trust will do. One of these is: “Each academy will publish their own equality, diversity and inclusion statement which ‘brings to life’ this Policy within their own setting. They will publish their own equality objectives, and review progress against these annually.”

The Co-op Academies Trust is committed to promoting equality and preventing discrimination in both employment and education provision. This is an ‘active commitment’, and part of it involves regularly reviewing our policies and practices at all levels of the organisation - a regular cycle of setting and reviewing objectives is part of this.

The Public Sector Equality Duty applies to all schools, including academies.

The general equality duty has three elements. In carrying out their functions public bodies are required to have ‘due regard’ when making decisions and developing policies, to the need to:

eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other conduct that is 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 across all protected characteristics – between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

For schools in England, there are two specific duties that they are required to carry out. These are:

to publish information to demonstrate how they are complying with the equality duty
to prepare and publish one or more specific and measurable equality objective.

Schools need to comply with these duties from 6 April 2012 and update yearly.

Academies are expected to operate an annual cycle of ‘plan, do, review’. Generally speaking this will run in line with the academic year.

At Co-op Academy Oakwood, we’re committed to promoting equality and preventing discrimination in both employment and education provision. We will create an inclusive environment, where everyone can contribute their best work and develop to their full potential. We will celebrate the fact that everyone is different yet valued, and make sure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

You can read more about this below; including the actions we have already taken to advance equality, diversity and inclusion in our academy and our community, and to comply with our equality duty. We’ve also set out our equality objectives, which are the things we’re going to be focusing on this year.

Statement

Co-op Academy Oakwood strives for each and every pupil, staff member and the wider community to participate in academy life to its fullest potential; not being held back by sex, age, race, disability, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identify, pregnancy or marriage status. As an Academy, we work to identify any barriers and our objective is to overcome these so that every person linked to our academy can achieve their aims.

We aim to promote pupil’s personal, social, health and cultural development; a special emphasis is on promoting equality and diversity, as well as eradicating prejudicial incidents. Our school is committed to not only eliminating discrimination, but also increasing understanding and appreciation for diversity.

Our academy curriculum focuses on ensuring that pupils learn about differences and how this creates a uniqueness which is special and should be treasured. We aim to create an environment where pupils are:

Respectful
Responsible for their actions
Developing a sense of self
Developing a sense of belonging
Developing an understanding of diversity and what this means
Encouraging to others
Accepting of all

Actions Taken 2022-23

During the last year, we have taken the following actions to advance equality, diversity & inclusion, and to comply with our equality duty:

Pupils

Have a building that is inclusive to all
Have hearing equipment available and maintained
Know there is a zero tolerance approach to bullying
Have a curriculum that is designed to reflect them and their needs
Are taught Peace Mala principles
Are taught to be understanding
Celebrate a range of religious and cultural festivals
Have reasonable adjustments made if they are a learner with special educational needs
Have access to books that represent them as well as reflecting different cultures, religions, gender identities, sexual identities and family make up
Have changing spaces that reflect dignity and respect

Colleagues

Have a building that is inclusive to all
Have toilet and parking facilities that are accessible to all
Have access to occupational health referrals which support with both physical and mental health
Are given equipment they need to conduct their role and support their health needs
Have access to BUPA, educational employment programme
Can access to a school based councillor
Have risk assessments to support medical needs, pregnancy or
Are provided with spaces to express

Our Community

Have a building that is inclusive to all
Have toilet and parking facilities that are accessible to all
Can communicate with staff who speak their home language
Can access support from the pastoral team

Objectives

Equality objective	To achieve this objective we plan to:	Success criteria
To monitor and analyse pupil achievement by protected characteristics and act on any trends or patterns in the data that require additional support for pupils.	Careful tracking of attainment and progress for pupils. Ensure reasonable adjustments are in place for these children. Work with outside agencies to achieve the best progress for our children. SENDCo to support teachers in effective strategy development for individuals or groups.	Children can fully access the curriculum. Children identified as needing support make equal, or accelerated progress in comparison to their peers.
To continue to promote understanding and respect for diversity within the academy and school community.	Ensure all staff are aware of our responsibility with regards to the Equality Act (2010) through effective training. Ensure our academy curriculum supports pupils’ tolerance and understanding. Ensure the academy curriculum embeds understanding of the Co-op values - Show you care, Be yourself always, Do what matters most, Succeed together. To ensure that the teaching of RE and British Values each half term is covered comprehensively to facilitate the understanding of other religions and cultures. To teach the Kapow PSHE curriculum weekly working towards a whole school outcome each half term. Academy policies and procedures promote equality of opportunity.	Children are aware of a range of religions and cultures. Children celebrate diversity and are tolerant to other religions, cultures and groups of people within society. Children acknowledge, understand and celebrate the benefits of living in a culturally diverse community.
To review levels of parental and pupil engagement in learning and academy life, across all activities to ensure equity and fairness in access and engagement.	Identify where support and input are needed in order to encourage family engagement in learning and academy life. Identify families of children that do not attend parent consultations or academy events. Family support worker to make contact with these families to encourage involvement and offer support if needed.	Gaps in engagement from all groups in academy life have been identified and addressed.
Over the next 2 years work towards the Leeds Beckett Anti-Racist School Award	Evaluate current practices and initiatives. Evaluate the overall anti-racism support and strategies that exist within our academy, whilst also helping to give structure to the development plan for any improvements.	As the Award framework focuses on the following areas: Governance, Leadership & Management School Environment Professional Learning & Development Hidden Curriculum Pedagogy & Curriculum Parents/Carers & Community Partnerships This tool will allow us to reflect further in order to strengthen practices.

Protected Characteristic	Priority	Actions	Expected Outcomes/Impact
Race Equality	Ensure that adult role models are reflective of a range of cultures.	Through the staff recruitment procedures, encourage candidates to apply from all backgrounds. One World Week annually. Invite a wide range of visitors to our academy. Ensure the curriculum provides opportunities to learn about different cultures nationally and globally.	Our academy reflects the diversity of our community and of the wider community. A range of visitors in our academy represent differing races and cultures. Our bespoke curriculum is fully revised to reflect race and equality awareness. Our reading spine is representative of a diverse community. Pupils can recognise themselves in the texts available in our academy.
Disability Equality	Break down barriers to perceptions of disability.	Celebrate the achievements of disabled role models such as: Billy Monger, Nicholas Hamilton, Ade Adepitan, Ellie Simmonds, Aaron Fotherington (Aaron Wheels), Rose Ayling-Ellis. Ensure a range of visitors enable pupils to engage positively with disabilities. Assemblies timetabled throughout the year. Large text available for staff/pupils/visitors. Accessible documents to be made available where appropriate.	Inclusion and diversity is celebrated throughout the year. Pupils can articulate inspirational people and identify the qualities of these individuals. Pupils are exposed to a wide range of people with disabilities and engage positively. Equality and diversity celebrated through assemblies. Visitors have full access to our academy - site, resources etc.
Gender Equality	To promote gender identity. Continue to create engaging learning opportunities that promote achievement for all..	Apply the principles of equal opportunities and gender equality to our recruitment process at all times. https://www.gires.org.uk/ https://www.stonewall.org.uk/ Focus/audit provision of resources to ensure all groups are making good progress in all classes.	Have a balance of male, female and gender neutral role models throughout our academy. Our new library is stocked with texts to support all genders. Our academy ethos, ways of being and curriculum promotes respect for differences within our academy community.
Community Cohesion	Achieve a greater awareness of national and community identity. Embed British Values through the curriculum. To monitor and promote the involvement of all pupils in extra-curricular events/clubs.	Citizenship and RE subject reviews to audit community, national and global coverage. PSHE - Jigsaw curriculum. Monitor levels of engagement at extra-curricular events and clubs for specific groups and promote these to specific families.	The planned curriculum represents national and global community learning opportunities, as well as reflecting British Values. Increased number of pupils attending clubs and events.
Sexual Orientation	To ensure that Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) represents and recognises diverse family structures.	Ensure all staff respond appropriately to questions raised by pupils. Use ‘Dear Families’ rather than ‘Dear Parents and Carers’. Protected characteristics are addressed during Rainbow Week.	Pupils and staff recognise that families are made from a range of gender and sexual orientations.
Religious Belief	To ensure respect and tolerance for all beliefs.	Staff policies and Induction procedures raise awareness of sensitivity towards diverse religious beliefs. Pupils’ behaviour expectations are high in relation to tolerance of all differences.	Our academy ethos is recognised as being supportive of diversity.
Age	Ensure our academy profile is representative of all age groups.	HCC Employment guidelines are followed.	Employment Law adhered to.
Training/CPD	Provide CPD for all staff on Equality and Diversity.	Provide CPD time for Equality and Diversity - National College.	All staff aware of legislation and responsibilities as stakeholders. Governors to access own training through GovernorHub.

Further information

Co-op Academies Trust’s Equality Diversity & Inclusion Policy can be found here https://www.coopacademies.co.uk/googledrive/?title=Equality%2C+Diversity+and+Inclusion+Policy+%282021%29&pid=0&gdfid=1hnQ1usMFwOvTeLsIGIZ2ioT5Vx1Ey4Td8SHdsUXgKY8

Review date: 01 September 2024