Woodfield School          Policy to Promote Racial Equality

 

Rationale

 

The policy to Promote Racial Equality aims to underpin and support the effective implementation of all school policies and inform the actions outlined in the school development plan.

 

We believe that the process of ensuring equal opportunities and racial equality is central to the development of a fair, holistic learning environment in which all members of the school community can thrive, learn and develop.

 

We work to create a learning environment where the diversity, needs and achievements of all members of the school community are recognised, valued and celebrated.

 

This policy has been written to support the school achieve the aims of our mission statement;

 

Woodfield is an inclusive school meeting the needs of every child. We are committed to:

 

Providing a secure, enjoyable and stimulating learning environment, which will enable pupils to realise their potential as individuals in society.

 

Providing equal access to a broad and balanced curriculum which:

 

Maintaining close contact with the home: making parents welcome in the school and to enable them to play a full part in the education of their children.

 

 

And firmly embed our ‘Bill of Rights’ throughout the school.

 

 

·        We have the right to speak without fear of being shouted down.

·        We have the right to learn and work without being disturbed.

·        We have the right to be ourselves and be respected.

·        We have the right to keep our possessions safe in school.

 

Aims

 

The main aims of the policy to Promote Racial Equality are to ensure that:

 

·        All pupils and staff are treated with respect and no applicant, employee or pupil is discriminated against because of sex, sexual orientation, marital status, responsibilities for dependants, ethnic or national origins, race, colour, religious or political beliefs, age, employment status, class,disability,  physical appeaance or trade union activities.

 

 

The school is determined that good race relations and equality of opportunity remain strengths of the school.

 

We will investigate as racial harassment, in line with the Steven Lawrence Report, any incident, which is perceived to be racist by the victim, or any other person

 

The school community is committed to the central themes of the Race Relations Act (1976) and the Amendment (2000). These acts enshrine our duties to:

 

 

And we have also taken into account in formulating the Promoting Racial Equality Action Plan Ofsted’s finding with regard to successful inclusion:

 

‘An educationally inclusive school is one in which the teaching and learning, achievement, attitudes and well being of every young person matter. This does not mean treating all pupils in the same way. Rather it involves taking account of pupils’ varied life experiences and needs.’[1]

 

The Policy and Racial Equality Action Plan aim to:

 

·        commit the school to work towards racial equality and to combat racial discrimination and racial harassment

·        increase mutual understanding and respect

·        comply with the statutory Code of Practice for the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of racial equality in employment

·        be relevant to members of all ethnic and national groups represented in the school community, including  travellers, asylum seekers and refugees

·        set out how the school will challenge racism. including:

§         the school’s approach to anti-racism

§         how the school will challenge racist attitudes

·        set out how the school will celebrate and promote cultural diversity

·        develop the policy through consultation with all sections of the school community

·        monitor each individual taking into account their ethnicity and explain why we need to monitor

·         take into account the school’s policy on preventing harassment

·        ensure that the policy is communicated, in an appropriate form, to everyone associated with the school

·        help pupils prepare for future life in a multi-ethnic and multi-faith society

 

 

 

Objectives

 

To achieve the aims of the policy the school has a responsibility to:

 

1. Policy Leadership & Management

 

 

 

2. Curriculum, Teaching & Assessment

 

 
3. Admissions, Attendance, Discipline & Exclusion

 

Admissions

 

Attendance

 

Discipline & Exclusion

 

4. Pupils – personal development, attainment & progress

 

 

5. Staffing – recruitment, training & professional development

 

 

6. Parents, Governors & Community Partnership

 

i). Parents
ii). Governors

 

iii). Community Partnership

 

7. Attitudes & Environment

 

i). Ethos

 

ii). Racism, Racial Discrimination & Racial Harassment

 

 

ie. … all racial incidents should be reported, at the earliest opportunity, to the head teacher (or deputy in his absence). The incident should be written on the detention slip with the relevant detail. The head teacher has a duty to complete an incident form, a copy being held on file in school. The headteacher will report to governors each term. Incidents will be dealt with promptly and seriously and in line with the school Positive Behaviour Management Policy, and where necessary in liaison with the LEA or Metropolitan Police.

 

 

Assessing the effectiveness of the policy

 

 

ie. …we will assess the policy regularly with stakeholders and make amendments, where necessary, to ensure that the policy remains a relevant and practical document that addresses racism and racial harassment directly and effectively.

 

 

·        How does the school help all its pupils to get the most from what is on offer and achieve as much as they can in the school, based on their individual needs?

·        Does ethnic monitoring show that an individual is not achieving as much as they can?  If yes, why are some individuals underachieving and what can be done to reverse the trend?

·        Is the school making sure that its policies, including its race equality policy, are not having an adverse impact on pupils, parents or staff from some racial groups?

·        Is the school doing enough to raise standards, and promote equality of opportunity for pupils who seem to be underachieving and who may need extra support?

·        What is the school doing to:

§         Prepare pupils for living in a multi-ethnic society?

§         Promote racial equality and harmony?

§         Prevent or deal with racism?

·        Do the policies aims lead to effective action?

·        What changes does the school need to make in order to make the policy more effective?

 

 

Training

 

 Staff will be supported in identifying professional development and training through school based inset and performance management review

 

·        All staff have access to high quality INSET

·        All staff have access to regular and up-to-date information with regard to racial equality issues and equality of opportunity

·        Individual professional development needs are addressed and recorded in colleague’s Continuing Professional Development Record

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


[1] Evaluating Educational Inclusion OFSTED publication 2000