Equality Vision
At Thorngumbald Primary School, we believe that every child has the right to feel safe, valued and included, and to know that they belong.
Equality for us is not about treating every child in exactly the same way. It is about recognising that every child is different, understanding what they need to thrive, and making sure that barriers do not prevent them from being able to participate, learn and shine.
We want every child to see themselves as an important part of our school community. We celebrate difference, challenge prejudice and discrimination, and help children to develop curiosity, empathy and respect for others. We want our children to grow up understanding that people may look different, live differently, think differently or have different experiences, while having equal worth and value.
Our commitment to equality is woven through everyday life at Thorngumbald. It can be seen in the relationships we build, the curriculum we provide, the way we adapt our teaching and environments, and the way we listen to children and families. We recognise that some children and families may experience barriers that others do not, and we work to remove or reduce those barriers wherever we can.
Through our curriculum and wider school life, children develop an age-appropriate understanding of equality, diversity and the protected characteristics, learning to recognise and respect both the similarities and differences between people. We want children to understand that difference is a natural part of our community and that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, kindness and respect. We want every child to leave Thorngumbald knowing:
They are loved.
They belong.
They can shine.
Our Statutory Responsibilities
Our approach to equality is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). We have a responsibility to 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.
In advancing equality of opportunity, we consider how we can remove or minimise disadvantages experienced because of protected characteristics, meet different needs where necessary, and encourage participation where this is disproportionately low.
Equality is the responsibility of everyone at Thorngumbald Primary. Our policies, curriculum, relationships and everyday practice all contribute to creating a school where everyone is known, everyone is valued and everyone has the opportunity to flourish.
Our Equality Information and Objectives
In accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty, we publish information about how we are meeting our equality duties and publish specific, measurable equality objectives at least every four years.
Our equality objectives identify areas where we can make a meaningful difference to the experiences, participation and opportunities of our pupils and wider school community. We review our progress regularly and use what we learn to inform our ongoing work.
Equality is not a standalone piece of work at Thorngumbald. It is part of our commitment to ensuring that every child, every lesson, every day has the opportunity to feel that they belong, to participate fully and to shine.
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Equality Policy inc Accessibility Plan | [pdf 363KB] |
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Following the introduction of the Equality Act 2010, the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), came into force in April 2011. The PSED sets out the requirements for all public bodies when carrying out their day to day work and has two main parts:
The ‘General’ Equality Duty
The General Duty requires Thorngumbald Primary to have ‘due regard’, or think about the need to:
Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act.
Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
Foster good relations across all characteristics between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
All staff are responsible for having due regard for the three General Equality aims.
The Act explains that having due regard for advancing equality involves:
Removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people due to their protected characteristics.
Taking steps to meet the needs of people from protected groups where these are different from the needs of other people.
Encouraging people from protected groups to participate in public life or in other activities where their participation is disproportionately low.
Details of how Thorngumbald Primary is working with due regard to the general equality duty aims are outlined in the policy.
The ‘Specific Duties’
The ‘Specific Duties’ require Thorngumbald Primary to do the following:
Publish information annually to show compliance with the General Equality Duty.
Prepare and publish one or more specific and measurable equality objectives at least once every four years and publish an update on progress towards these objectives annually.
