EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
Perran-ar-Worthal School Equality Statement:
‘We have an inclusive ethos which means all staff, governors, pupils and parents work together to ensure that everyone, regardless of protected characteristics or social background, can thrive and aspire to be the best they can be. We provide opportunities for every member of our school community to realise their potential and follow their passion by removing any barriers that could hold them back.’
The Equality Act 2010 was introduced to ensure protection from discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of specific protected characteristics. This means that schools cannot discriminate against, or treat anyone less favourably, because of age, gender, race, disability, religion or belief, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. The Act introduced requires all schools to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty and two specific duties.
The Public Sector Equality Duty requires schools to:
- Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
- Advance equality of opportunity between different groups
- Foster good relationships between different groups
The Two ‘Specific Duties’ requires schools to:
- Publish information to show compliance with the Equality Duty
- Publish Equality Objectives at least every 4 years which are specific and measurable
At Perran-ar-Worthal School we aim to:
- Develop children’s awareness of the diverse society in which we live and ensure the whole school experience equips children to develop positive attitudes towards a pluralistic society
- Develop an inclusive and tolerant school community where everybody connected with the school discourages and directly challenges discrimination and harassment of any kind
- Involve all groups of students in all areas of school life
- Actively close gaps in attainment and achievement between all pupils and groups of students
- Encourage diversity in the staff body and leadership roles
- Continue to review accessibility across the school to ensure it meets the needs of all members of the community
- Ensure due consideration is given to the equality implications of our actions and decisions
- Continue to review all relevant school policies, procedures and planning to ensure they clearly reflect our aim of inclusivity
Our community is predominantly white British but we also serve pupils and their families from other backgrounds. Alongside our community valuing the cultural heritage, the lack of diversity in our immediate area highlights the need to develop an understanding and appreciation of equality and diversity in both the school and wider British society. Through our Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural (SMSC), Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Religious Education (RE) and assemblies, we promote British Values and ensure our pupils consider and value diversity in all its forms in preparation for their experiences in the wider world. Empathy and care for others are part of our core values.
The Equality Act 2010 requires schools to publish specific and measurable equality objectives. Our equality objectives focus on those areas where we have agreed to take action to improve equality and tackle disadvantages. Please click on the link below to see our Equality Objectives for 2022 - 2026, as agreed by our Curriculum, Standards and Engagement Committee. These are reviewed annually to monitor progress.