Equality

Our equality and diversity principles

The Public Sector Equality Duty 2011 has three aims under the general duty for academies and settings:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act. By removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people due to their protected characteristics.
• Advance Equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic. By taking steps to meet the needs of people from protected groups where these are different from the needs of other people.
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. By encouraging people from protected groups to participate in public life or in other activities where their participation is disproportionately low.

At Histon & Impington Brook Primary School (HIBPS), we value diversity and we recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.

We believe that discrimination or exclusion based on individual characteristics and circumstances, such as:

• age;
• disability;
• caring or dependency responsibilities;
• gender or gender identity;
• marriage and civil partnership status;
• political opinion;
• pregnancy and maternity;
• race, colour, caste, nationality, ethnic or national origin;
• religion or belief;
• sexual orientation;
• socio-economic background;
• trade union membership status;
• or other distinctions

• We recognise that patterns of under-representation and differences in outcomes at Stamford Welland Academy can be challenged through positive action programmes.
• We respect the rights of individuals, including the right to hold different views and beliefs. We will not allow these differences to be manifested in a way that is hostile or degrading to others.
• We expect commitment and involvement from all our staff, students, families, community partners and providers of goods and services in working towards the achievement of our vision for equality and diversity.

At HIBPS we want to promote Equality and Diversity through our objectives:

• To ensure that identified gender plays no role in limiting the opportunities for students in all areas of the curriculum and wider school life;
• To further develop the understanding of staff, students, parents and other members of the community regarding different races and customs;
• To raise staff awareness of the Equalities Duty and the part that each of us plays
• To ensure that disadvantaged groups of students achieve in line with their peers.

Forums for students, staff and parents have been established.  Each has the focus of welfare including the equality and diversity duty as one of the main areas of its work.  Through these forum, the academy consults with and involves those affected by inequality in the decisions the academy takes to promote equality and eliminate all forms of discrimination.

The academy maintains good relations and consults with the trades union, locally and regionally on matters of equality and diversity and nationally through Meridian Trust’s Joint Consultation and Negotiation Committee (JCNC).  Meridian Trust’s agreed Equality and Diversity Policy can be found here.

All students and staff receive appropriate training in the protected characteristics and how to raise a concern or make a complaint about discrimination.

Surveys that cover aspects of the equality and diversity duty are conducted annually with the students and biennially with the staff.