Co-op Academy Princeville

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement 2021 - 24

At Co-op Academy Princeville, we believe that some things matter more than others. We want to make the world a better place, so that everybody, regardless of similarity or difference, can play a valuable part in our future. So together, we accept our responsibility, to value everyone, to challenge prejudice, and to speak out for what we believe in: a world where we are all valued and where everybody can succeed. We are clear about ‘What Matters Most’.

Our school curriculum is unapologetically challenging: we teach our children about the world, as it is and as it was, and we share our learning with objectivity. Things happen in the world, and happened in the past, that are not just or fair, but by talking about things, we can learn to make the world a better place, and we can learn to take responsibility for shaping the future we hope for, for all of us.

Our academy community has the highest expectations of itself, and we have the same expectations of each other; this helps us to make sense of issues and inequalities in the world, helps us to grow our own perspective and identity, and empowers us to build a better future, where we feel proud of who we are. Our programmes of study support the tackling of stereotypes of all kinds, whilst celebrating the learning available to us, and promoting learning from each other.

We are a diverse community of pupils and colleagues from many backgrounds, from different places, speaking different languages, with different beliefs, who have experienced a wealth of different things, but we are united by our belief in inclusion, equality, compassion, empathy and humility, and we are not afraid to speak up for what is right, and to work together to make a positive difference.

Our shared journey will never be one that is complete, so every year we will reflect on our progress. We’ll celebrate our success, we’ll accept where we have fallen short, and we will plan to make ourselves and our community better. We will be guided by our Cooperative Values through our ‘Ways of Being’, and this will help us to:

• Be ourselves always - unashamedly, authentically and without fear.
• Do What Matters Most - challenging injustice and inequality, so that everyone feels like an important member of our community, because they are.
• Show We Care - speaking out when we believe that something isn’t right, and sticking up for what we believe in
• Succeeding Together - knowing that as one community and one world, we are stronger

Action Taken

Evaluation of the Equality Statement & Objectives 2021-24

Equality Objectives

1. To ensure that all children have equal access to a rich, broad, balanced and relevant Curriculum which promotes equality, diversity and celebrates differences. A curriculum which:

1. Celebrates the culture, heritage and background of all learners
2. Acknowledges the facts of history, and explores a broad range of perspectives and experience
3. Is unbiased

2. To ensure that teaching and learning promotes equity by:

4. Celebrates the culture, heritage and background of all learners
5. Acknowledges the facts of history, and explores a broad range of perspectives and experience
6. Is unbiased
7. Teachers will seek opportunities to highlight and challenge stereotypes of all kinds

3. To ensure that no-one is unfairly or illegally disadvantaged as a consequence of their gender, colour, race, age, ethnic or national origin, disability or religious beliefs

4. To ensure that community cohesion drives curriculum purpose and that we have explicit opportunities to bring the equality theory to real life situations with our children. We will continue and further develop:

1. A curriculum that is built on equality, diversity and inclusion.
2. Opportunities for visitors into school and visits out to a range of venues, including in relation to the RE curriculum.
3. Our Resourced Provision and the opportunity for integrated approaches to education for pupils with ASC
4. The link with Co-op Academy Delius
5. Our link with the Local Nursing Home

5. To ensure that those with management responsibility and individual staff accept responsibility for planning, organisation and delivery of appropriate educational material to ensure that this policy for equity and diversity is woven into all we do

6. To ensure that learners and parents are fully involved in the provision made by the Academy, including through opportunities for consultation and discussion

7. To ensure that financial planning takes account of addressing equality and diversity

        and fundamentally underpins this policy, providing the means to affect change over time.

Equality Strategies

• The Academy will continue to push forward an agenda of revision in relation to the curriculum which keeps all stakeholders focussed on the importance of equality and diversity in the breadth of the Academy’s work.

• Leadership and Management activity will ensure that procedures and practices within the academy reflect the objectives of this policy

• Teachers will ensure that their planning, teaching and learning takes account of this

policy and ensures that equity underpins all their work

• Parents and Pupils will be involved and consulted about the provision being offered by the school

• Opportunities for demonstrating diversity and celebration of differences will be recognised as a rich and valuable resource for learning and driving equality standards

• Training opportunities for staff will be planned and delivered to ensure a focus on equitable teaching and learning and making use of resources that are fit for our purpose
• Assemblies will focus regularly on key themes in relation to Protected Characteristics, promoting understanding.

Equality Outcomes

This document will promote Equality and Diversity throughout the academy, by achieving the following outcomes:

1. The curriculum will have been redeveloped, and equality, diversity and inclusion will be woven through. This will be completed in liaison with the Academy’s Equality Link Governor, and Subject Directors

2. Lesson Observations will identify that Equality and Diversity is a prominent aspect of at least 50% of lessons. This will be a key aspect of any monitoring activity within the school

3. The school will have no recorded incidents of prejudicial, racist or homophobic incidents

4. Independent scrutiny will identify Equality, Diversity and Inclusion as a significant aspect of the Academy’s curriculum.

5. The impact of the policy will be measured annually by the Leadership and Management team, and an assessment will be made of the difference the policy is making in practice.

6. Termly consultation will have taken place with parents and pupils, and these meetings will be recorded, with actions set and reviewed.

7. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion will be allocated a cost centre in the Academy’s budget, and the Deputy Headteacher will have responsibility for funding activities to ensure the success of this policy.