Public Sector Equality Duty

Public Sector Equality Duty

Public Sector Equality Duty Statement
Marlcliffe Community Primary School is fully committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity and ensuring that all members of our school community are treated fairly, with dignity and respect.
As a school, we recognise our responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). We have due regard to the need to:

• eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation;

• advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not; and

• foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

The protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010 are age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Marriage and civil partnership is also a protected characteristic.

How we meet our duty
We promote equality through our everyday practice, including:

• providing an inclusive curriculum which reflects a diverse range of people, cultures, faiths, backgrounds and experiences;

• teaching pupils to respect differences between people and challenging discriminatory and prejudicial language or behaviour;

• ensuring that pupils with disabilities and additional needs are supported through reasonable adjustments and appropriate adaptations;

• monitoring relevant pupil information, including behaviour, attendance, achievement and incidents of discrimination, to identify potential inequalities or barriers;

• considering equality when developing and reviewing policies, procedures and significant changes to school practice;

• providing equal opportunities for pupils to participate in learning, enrichment and wider school activities;

• providing staff with appropriate training and guidance to support equality, inclusion and respectful behaviour;

• listening to the views of pupils, parents, carers and staff and using these views, where appropriate, to inform school improvement;

• working with families and relevant external agencies where additional support is needed to remove barriers to participation or achievement.

Where we identify differences in outcomes, experiences or access between groups, we will consider the reasons for these differences and whether further action is required.

Monitoring and review
The school leadership team and governing body will monitor the school's work on equality through existing school monitoring and review processes. This may include consideration of pupil outcomes, attendance, behaviour and discrimination incidents, pupil voice, accessibility and participation in school activities. 

Information will be considered, where appropriate, in relation to relevant protected characteristics so that the school can identify any patterns, barriers or areas where further action or staff training may be required. This will feed into our Equality objectives action plan.

Our Equality Objectives set out specific priorities for promoting equality and reducing identified barriers. These objectives will be reviewed at least every four years, or sooner where appropriate. Information about how the school is meeting the Public Sector Equality Duty will be published and reviewed annually.
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We will continue to work towards a school community in which everyone feels safe, respected, valued and able to participate fully in school life.