Equality Duty

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What is the Public Sector Equality Duty (the PSED)?

The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies to promote equality.  This requires all public bodies to recognise and prevent discrimination against all protected characteristics. These are:

• age
• disability,
• gender reassignment
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation

Our aims

All schools are required to meet their obligations under the public sector equality duty. Hertford St Andrew does this by having due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate discrimination 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 characteristics – between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

Our actions 

The school has a developed range of policies which make explicit our deeply held commitment to actively promoting equality of opportunity for all.

The main policies or statements that deal with equality of opportunity are:

• British Values
• Accessibility Plan
• Equality Duty
• SEND policy
• Behaviour Policy
• Anti-bullying policy
• Maternity & Paternity Policies
• Collective worship policy
• RSE Policy

Hertford St Andrews is fully compliant with all legislation relating to equality, including but not limited to:

• The Equality Act 2010
• The SEND Code of Practice 2015

Hertford St Andrew's Equality Duty can be read in full below

Equality Objectives beginning Academic year 2024-2025

Under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) the school is required to set Equality Objectives. Our published information must be updated annually and objectives published at least once every four years. These objectives directly link to the school’s Accessibility Plan  and are explained in detail in our Equality Duty document.

Objective 1: To train all members of staff and governors on SEND, equal opportunities and non-discrimination and ensuring that all new starters are inducted into this training. This will support our development of a non-discriminatory culture.

Objective 2: To ensure that future reviews of all school policies are informed by our PSED objectives.

Objective 3: To further develop  our school curriculum so that in meeting the needs of our children, all protected characteristics are considered and children learn the importance of tolerance, acceptance, respect for difference, and the importance of equity of opportunity. This will be taught in a way suited to the children's levels of development.

Equality Duty Statement 2024

It is our vision that Hertford St Andrew Primary School should be a place where everyone is happy, safe and learning and have all the opportunities they need to live life in all its fullness.

Our statutory duties are:

• To promote community cohesion (under the Education and Inspections Act 2006).
• To eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations (under the Equality Act 2010).

At Hertford St Andrew our aims are:

• To make sure that everyone in our community feels safe in school and knows that they belong
• To tackle all forms of prejudice, recognising that there is parity of prejudice under the Equality Act
• To value and celebrate unique identities and diversity
• To make sure that no-one experiences unfair or discriminatory treatment because of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act:
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Ethnicity, colour or national origin
  • Disability
  • Belief
  • Sexual orientation
  • Marital status
  • Pregnancy
  • Gender reassignment
• To provide support for children with additional or different needs to their peers

Equity in Teaching and Learning

To enable all children to succeed in learning in our school our commitment to equity is evident in all our teaching. We aim to do this by:

• Ensuring equality of access for all pupils and preparing them for life in a diverse society
• Using materials that reflect the diversity of the school, population and local community without stereotyping
• Actively searching for opportunities in the curriculum to promote equity, understand sources of prejudice and discrimination and make the school more inclusive
• Promoting attitudes and values that challenge any discriminatory behaviour or prejudice
• Providing opportunities for pupils to appreciate their own culture and celebrate the diversity of other cultures
• Recognising local, national and international issues related to equity and supporting children to understand their world and make it a more wlecoming and inclusive place
• Seeking to involve all parents in supporting their child's education
• Utilising teaching approaches appropriate for the whole school population which are inclusive and reflective of our pupils.

Equity in the school community

We seek to provide all children with a rich and diverse range of opportunities alongside of the curriculum. We want our school community to be an equitable and welcoming one. We strive to make sure:

• There are no under-represented groups in our enrichment opportunities
• Parents of all children are supported with access to all school opportunities
• We do all we can to reduce safety risks and access issues and enable all children to participate in school activities and events
• Any incidents of prejudiced or discriminatory speech or behaviour are tackled promptly, thoroughly and with the dignity of the victim at the heart of our work
• All stakeholders prepare activities thoroughly to predict and prevent any prejudicial treatment
• All staff work actively to promote inclusion and respect diversity
• Divisiveness is not tolerated and our Christian Way of Life welcomes and nurtures all without fear or favour, recognising all that we have in common

Equal Opportunities for Staff

All staff appointments and promotions are made on the basis of merit and ability and in compliance with the law. We are keen to ensure that the staffing of the school reflects the diversity of our community.

All staff have a duty to actively promote equity and diversity. All staff are empowered to challenge language or behaviour that does not support our aims and vision for an equitable school. Whistleblowing is encouraged and supported.