Equality Statement 

At Hever Primary School we are committed to ensuring equality of education and opportunity for all pupils, staff, parents and carers, irrespective of disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. We know that our children are growing up in a diverse and often divided world and recognise that world-views can impact how pupils think, believe, feel, and act. For children growing up and working out who they are, it can be especially hard to know how to handle conflict, difference, fear of saying the wrong thing, and the ups and downs of friendships. Children need the opportunity and support to build good relationships with themselves, their peers, and the world around them. This will help to build a flourishing and welcoming school community where everyone feels accepted, everyone feels included and everyone feels like their voice matters, so that we all feel like we belong.  It will also prepare children for the next stage in their education and beyond, enabling them to engage respectfully and contribute constructively, to the diverse society to which we belong.

We have set the following objectives to achieve this:

Objective 1: Ensure our curriculum provides planned and explicit opportunities to explore identity, be comfortable with difference and promote equality, providing children with the tools and the skills to build good relationships with themselves, their peers, and the world around them.

Objective 2: Ensure our curriculum and our resources reflect the diverse world in which we live, providing opportunities to reduce misperception, build understanding and ensure all children have access to learning opportunities that reflect their experiences, cultures, and identities.

Objective 3: Ensure our staff are equipped to recognise, deal with and prevent prejudice-based incidents, including racist incidents.

 

Putting our Principles into Practice

We tackle discrimination through the positive promotion of equality, by challenging bullying and stereotypes and by creating an environment which champions respect for all. At Hever Primary School, we believe that diversity is a strength which should be respected and celebrated by all those who learn, teach and visit us.

Equality in Teaching and Learning

We provide all our pupils with the opportunity to succeed and to reach the highest level of personal achievement, by:

• Ensuring equality of access for all pupils and preparing them for life in a diverse society
• Promoting attitudes and values that challenge any discriminatory behaviour or prejudice
• Providing opportunities for pupils to appreciate their own culture and celebrate the diversity of other cultures
• Seeking to involve all parents in supporting their child’s education
• Utilising teaching approaches appropriate for the whole school population which are inclusive and reflective of our pupils.

As an inclusive, respectful community, we are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all at Hever. We demonstrate this in the following ways:

1. We regularly analyse the progress and attainment of all learners, including those who share a protected characteristic. Where we identify variations between pupils who share a protected characteristic and the overall school population, we will investigate the cause and where necessary, take steps to address this.

2. Our curriculum is accessible to all learners. We accommodate the individual needs of all our pupils, making adaptations where required and tailoring support to ensure pupils achieve their potential.

3. We uphold the British Values of mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and recognise our responsibility to nurture and develop this understanding. 

4. We promote an inclusive culture in which all children feel comfortable sharing concerns with adults so that they can be appropriately supported. We aim to ensure that all parents feel able to approach the school with concerns or difficulties.

5. The school marks notable events and festivals during the calendar year. This raises awareness of moments in the year that are important for our community, and the wider community, across a wide range of protected characteristic groups.

6. Relevant equal opportunity implications are taken into account when drafting and reviewing School Policies. Key policies are kept up to date on our website and are available on request from the School Office. 

Equality in Admissions and Exclusions

Our admissions arrangements are fair and transparent and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, religion, belief, disability and/or socio-economic background.

Equal Opportunities for Staff

All staff appointments and promotions are made on the basis of merit and ability and in compliance with the law. The school publishes an Accessibility Plan setting out how we make improvements in accessibility for those with disabilities. 

You can find additional information about The Equality Act and duties below,.