EQUALITIES STATEMENT
St Thomas' School is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity in line with the Equality Act 2010. We aim to reduce disadvantages, discrimination and inequalities of opportunity, and promote diversity in terms of our pupils, our workforce and the community in which we work.
We will teach our pupils the importance of equality, and what forms discrimination can take, and the impact discrimination can have, as part of our curriculum. Where pupils experience barriers to their success, we will work with them to address these in a sensitive and caring way. We will assist our pupils in meeting our behaviour expectations so that they can access a full and rich school life allowing them to floruish and be the best they can be.
We will not discriminate on any of the grounds listed below (known as the Protected Characteristics) save where such discrimination is permitted by law, for example, the school may arrange pupils in classes based on age.
The Protected Characteristics that apply to schools are:
Age (in relation to staff only); Disability; Gender re-assignment; Marriage and civil partnership (in relation to staff only); Pregnancy and Maternity; Race; Religion Faith or Belief; Sex; and Sexual Orientation.
As a Governing Body and employer we will also not accept any of the following:
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Direct or Indirect Discrimination;
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Harassment; and
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Victimisation
We will comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty giving due regard to that duty when making decisions, taking actions and developing policies. In line with its specific duties under the Equality Act 2010, we will publish our equality objectives and will publish information about how it is complying with the Public Sector Equality Duty. Published Information will be updated annually and objectives will be updated every four years. This information is available on our website.
Statutory Duties
There are a number of statutory duties that must be met by every school in line with legislation from the Race Relations Act (2000), Disability Equality Duty (2005) and Equality Act (2010).
St Thomas' CE Primary School is committed to meeting its public sector duties and acknowledges that we have a statutory duty to:
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Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
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Promote equality of access and opportunity within our school and within our wider community.
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Promote positive attitudes to difference and good relationships between people with different backgrounds, genders, cultures, faiths, abilities and ethnic origins.
The Leadership Team and Governors at St Thomas' CE Primary School regularly review the progress we are making to meet our equality objectives with regard to the protected characteristics (race, disability, gender, gender re-assignment, age, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, sexual orientation, religion and belief) under the Equality Act (2010).