At Co-op Academy Brierley we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and preventing discrimination. We aim to provide an inclusive environment for all where individuals are able to develop to their full potential. It is a priority within the academy that all stakeholders are able to engage in the full academy offer and differentiation and the removal of barriers promotes this for all. Importance is given to not only eliminating discrimination but also promoting and increasing understanding and appreciation for diversity within the academy and the wider community.

We welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010. The school’s general duties, with regards to equality are:

Eliminating discrimination
Fostering good relationships
Advancing equality of opportunity.

We will not discriminate against, harass or victimise any pupil, prospective pupil, or other member of the school community because of their:

Sex
Age
Race
Disability and long term medical conditions
Religion or belief
Sexual orientation
Gender reassignment
Pregnancy or maternity
Marriage and civil partnership

We aim to promote students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, with special emphasis on promoting equality and diversity, and eradicating prejudicial incidents for students and staff. Our school is committed to not only eliminating discrimination, but also increasing understanding and appreciation for diversity.

Aims to eradicate discrimination

We believe that a greater level of success from students and staff can be achieved by realising the uniqueness of individuals. We are committed to creating a prejudice-free environment where individuals feel confident and at ease by:

Being respectful
Always treating all members of the school community fairly
Developing an understanding of diversity and the benefits it can have
Adopting an inclusive attitude
Adopting an inclusive curriculum that is accessible to all
Encouraging compassion and open-mindedness.

We are committed to having a fair and balanced curriculum. We believe that our students should be exposed to ideas and concepts that may challenge their understanding, to help ensure that they learn to become more accepting and inclusive of others. Challenging and controversial concepts will be delivered in a way that prevents discrimination and promotes inclusive attitudes. We will also respect the right of parents to withdraw their children from certain classes which pose conflicts to their own beliefs, where such withdrawal is legally permitted.

Dealing with prejudice

We do not tolerate any form of prejudice-related incident. If an incident occurs, we are devoted to ensuring action is taken and a resolution is put into place which is both firm, fair, appropriate and proportionate.

Our students are taught to be:

Understanding of others
Celebratory of cultural diversity
Eager to reach their full potential
Inclusive
Aware of what constitutes discriminatory behaviour

Our employees will not:

Discriminate against any member of the school community
Treat other members of the school community unfairly

Our employees will:

Promote diversity and equality
Encourage and adopt an inclusive attitude
Lead by example

Equality and dignity in the workplace

We do not discriminate against staff with regards to their:

Age
Disability (including long term medical conditions)
Gender reassignment
Marital or civil partner status
Pregnancy or maternity
Race
Religion or belief
Sex
Sexual orientation

Equality of opportunity and non-discrimination extends to the treatment of all members of the school community. All staff members are obliged to act in accordance with the school’s policies relating to equality.

We will guarantee that no redundancy is the result of direct or indirect prejudice. All disciplinary procedures are non-prejudicial, whether they result in warnings, dismissal, or any other disciplinary action.

Prejudice is not tolerated and we are continuously working to maintain and grow an accepting and respectful environment for our school community.

The school participates in an annual consultation with staff and parents through the ‘Your Voice’ survey, conducted on behalf of the school by the Trust. This is a good opportunity for interested parties in consulting with and taking the views of the community we serve.

The Co-op Academies Trust circulates regular ‘Pulse’ surveys of staff on current matters and significant findings are reported back to the leadership teams of the academies within the Trust where applicable.

Parents and carers are asked to complete a feedback form at the time of their student’s Annual Review of their Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP).

This document should be read in conjunction with the Co-op Academies Trust Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Policy 2015 (as reviewed) and Dignity at Work Policy and the current Co-op Academy Brierley Accessibility Policy and Plan.

Equality Objectives Action Plan 2023-2024

Pupil voice

Identified concern:	That all pupils have the opportunity to contribute to their own learning and EHCP targets/outcomes; and can contribute to their Education Health Care Plan review and successes.
Objective:	To ensure that all students, irrespective of their special educational needs are given a voice, and are allowed to communicate through a range of appropriate ways to level of needs, comprehension and understanding.
Aim:	To ensure all pupils EHCPs reflect their involvement through showcasing their achievements and making their wants and needs known.
Action:	Ensure staff take the time to discuss with the student their learning achievements in a format the student shows an awareness of. Ensure the students are allowed to share their success in a format they can interact with, be it pictorial, voice message, written word or other means of communication. Ensure that Pupil Voice in a differentiated manner is captured in the annual review and shared with families.
Responsibility:	Class teacher & SLT EHCP Lead
Affected parties:	All students on roll (all students currently have an EHCP).
Timescales:	October 2023 - July 2024
Success criteria:	All students have a voice and a say that has been captured at annual review of the EHCP, that this is shared and celebrated by the families. All students have their personal wants and needs captured during the review process.
Review:	July 2024

Attendance and progress

Identified concern:	That attendance issues are tackled fairly with no discrimination and equal expectation, to enable all students to make progress.
Objective:	To ensure that all students have the equal opportunity to access learning. To monitor attendance weekly ensuring school is aware of any potential long term absence (5 days).
Aim:	To ensure that a range of ways of supporting attendance are implemented to facilitate improved attendance and punctuality for students identified as having a low attendance percentage (excluding medical absences). To ensure that those students who are medically unable to attend school are having appropriate learning.
Action:	Weekly attendance monitoring. Home learning opportunities are planned appropriately for those students who are medically unable to attend school. Home tuition team record and monitor learning and progress in line with student EHCP targets/outcomes. Achievable attendance targets are set for students requiring support with attendance and individualised support provided.
Responsibility:	Class teacher and attendance/safeguarding leads.
Affected parties:	Identified students with complex health and medical needs; identified students with attendance lower than an agreed percentage.
Timescales:	September 2023 - July 2024
Success criteria:	All students have a fair equitable learning offer and progress against EHCP targets/outcomes are being met.
Review:	Attendance and safeguarding leads to review attendance half termly. Progress to be reviewed as part of the assessment schedule.

Services and accommodation

Identified concern:	Physical environment - Improve the physical environment of the school to enable students with dysregulated behaviour to regain their self-control more quickly
Objective:	Identified issue: the complexity of our student cohort including those with autism has increased.
Aim:	Increase the amount of secure outdoor space around the school so that children are not required to stay in their classrooms when they are dysregulated and can be fully supported to return to their classrooms as quickly as possible.
Action:	Subcompartmented external play spaces to be added once the building has been handed over.
Responsibility:	The Headteacher will be responsible for developing this objective and implementing the appropriate actions, in conjunction with the SEND Lead for the Academy Trust.
Affected parties:	Students with more complex presentations of autism.
Timescales:	From September 2023 onwards
Success criteria:	Improved facilities for children to self-regulate and avoid the need for physical interventions to keep them or other children safe.
Review:	Annually by AGC

LIVE - Equality Objectives Statement and Action Plan 2023-2024