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Equality and Diversity Statement

The Equality Act 2010 was introduced to ensure protection from discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of specific characteristics (referred to as protected characteristics). For schools, this means that it is unlawful to discriminate against ‘protected characteristics’ identified as gender; race; age; disability; religion or belief; gender reassignment; sexual orientation; pregnancy or maternity.

This act is applicable to staff and students alike whilst still allowing for a broad and challenging curriculum.

 

The Equality Act is reflected in:

  • The vision, ethos and values of the school, which are included in both staff and student planners.
  • All our Policies and Procedures, examples can be found in the school policies section on our website.
  • The Respect Agenda, which is displayed around the academy.

 

Under the Act, the school is expected to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). This requires us to:

  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
  • Advance equality of opportunity between different groups
  • Foster good relations between different groups

In accordance with the Equality Act (2010) QKA is fully committed to:

  • Recognising that all staff and pupils have identities which are unique to them. These identities include our ethnicity, but also our gender, sex, sexuality, disability, class and religion or belief.
  • Challenging inequalities and systemic racial assumptions.
  • Creating opportunities to celebrate diversity within the Academy and local community.
  • Using teaching and learning to foster an understanding of the multicultural society in which we all live.
  • Supporting young people’s right to speak out and engage as active citizens with the issues around racism and discrimination.
  • Recognising that the responsibility and expectation of challenging racism and discrimination should not fall to certain groups of staff and students; but rather we work collectively, taking into consideration individuals’ viewpoints and experiences of exclusionary practices and policies.

 

As a public organisation, we are required to:

  • Have due regard to the PSED when making decisions, taking action or developing policy and practice.
  • Publish information to show compliance with the Equality Duty.
  • Publish Equality Objectives which are specific and measurable.

Our Equality  Policy is in line with national guidance and contains information about how the QKA  complies with the Public Sector Equality Duty. We also give guidance to staff and the wider school community on our approach to promoting equality. This includes ‘advancing equality’ which means ensuring shared opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

Our Equality Objectives reflect the school's priorities, our RESPECT  values and draw upon available data and other evidence.

To find out more about the Equalities Act 2010 please click here.

To find out more about the Public Sector Equality Duty click here.

As well as providing you with the above information, we would like the topic of equality to be a two way conversation. We are keen to involve parents, pupils, staff and members of the local community in the decisions we take to promote equality and eliminate discrimination. If you would like to be involved, please email veronica.giaquinto@qka.education and allow 48 hours for a response.

The Trusts TDET Equality and Diversity Policy can be found on the TDET Policy Page.