Equality at Canada Hill
Canada Hill Community Primary School is committed to providing equality of opportunity for all members of our school community. We want every pupil, member of staff, parent, carer and visitor to feel safe, respected, valued and able to participate fully in school life.
We recognise our responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). We work to:
- eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation;
- advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not;
- foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
The protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 are:
- age;
- disability;
- gender reassignment;
- marriage and civil partnership;
- pregnancy and maternity;
- race;
- religion or belief;
- sex;
- sexual orientation.
We also recognise that children and families may experience barriers or disadvantage for a range of reasons beyond the protected characteristics. We seek to identify and address these barriers so that all pupils can access education and participate fully in school life.
Our approach
Equality is an integral part of life at Canada Hill. We promote a culture in which differences are respected and valued and in which discriminatory, prejudicial or bullying behaviour is challenged.
We expect all members of our school community to:
- treat others with dignity and respect;
- use appropriate and respectful language;
- challenge discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes;
- value the contribution of others;
- recognise and respect differences between people;
- help create an environment in which everyone feels safe and included.
We understand that treating everyone fairly does not always mean treating everyone in exactly the same way. Some pupils may require additional support, reasonable adjustments or different approaches in order to access the same opportunities and achieve their potential.
Equality through education
Our curriculum plays an important role in promoting equality. Pupils learn about different cultures, beliefs, communities, identities and experiences and are encouraged to develop empathy, respect and an understanding of the wider world.
We seek to ensure that our teaching, curriculum resources and wider educational experiences provide positive and varied representations of people and challenge stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes.
Further information about this can be found in our Equality Curriculum Statement.
Monitoring and equality objectives
We monitor relevant information about pupils' achievement, attendance, participation and experiences to help us identify any barriers or differences that may require further action.
Our Equality Objectives identify the areas where we are focusing our work to advance equality of opportunity across the school. These objectives are reviewed regularly and inform our ongoing school improvement work.
Our Equality Policy provides further information about our statutory responsibilities, the roles of governors and staff, and how equality is promoted and protected across the school.
Our commitment
At Canada Hill, we want every child to know that they belong, that their contribution matters and that they have the opportunity to succeed.
We believe that a strong commitment to equality benefits the whole school community. By promoting respect, inclusion, fairness and understanding, we help our pupils develop into thoughtful, responsible and respectful members of society.