Equalities Statement

The Friary School place a high priority on ensuring it meets its specific equality duties and takes into account all expectations of the Equality Act (2010).

Overview

Equality is fundamental expectation in modern British society and at any point each individual may face barriers which prevent them from maximising their potential or enabling them to fully engage in opportunities.

Consequently, The Friary School supports the three main aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty (2011):

  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
  •  Advance quality of opportunity between people who share a characteristic and those who do not.
  •  Cultivate good relations between people who share a characteristic and those who do not.

Subsequently, The Friary School is committed to promoting equality opportunities and combating discrimination for all members of our school community by:

  • Embracing diversity as a strength, which should be respected and celebrated by all those who learn, teach and visit the school.
  • Recognising and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups by making reasonable adjustments wherever practicable.
  • Countering deprivation and support self-sufficiency.
  • Establishing the co-operation of members of the school committees in the implementation of equal opportunities, including the reporting of all incidents of discrimination or harassment.

Protected Characteristics

The daily practices of The Friary School take full account of the following groups considered to have a protected characteristics:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Sex (gender)
  • Race (ethnicity)
  • Pregnancy and Maternity
  • Religion and Belief
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Transgender
  • Marriage and Civil Partnership

This means that no member of our community will be discriminated against, harassed or receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of their protected characteristics.

Monitoring & Developing Equalities Practice

The Friary School will maintain this commitment to equalities through challenging inequality in day-to-day practice by:

  • Seeking ways to promote diversity and discussing prejudice within teaching and learning
  • Removing any individual from the immediate situation and ensuring matters are discussed in a private location
  • Being consistent in any response, challenging inequality on every occasion, and taking the same response – whether it be in relation to behaviour and/or language
  • Seeking clarity in every incident so that protagonists can explain what they have said or done, reflect on why the matter is being discussed with them, and then offering an explanation to the student as to why action is being taken
  • Discussing incidents in a calm and clear manner, with appropriate terminology and without the fear of offence, under the standpoint that it is only by addressing issues that ignorance or misconception can be challenged and explored
  • Ensuring that all incidents are fully logged and referred to senior staff where appropriate
  • Speaking to the victim and informing them of what actions have been taken
  • Creating an opportunity for restorative medication or justice where appropriate
  • The Friary School will seek to develop a voice for students, staff, parents and carers through:
  • Interviews with students and staff
  • Consultation with student and staff bodies
  • CPD provision for staff
  • Explicitly targeting under-represented groups where appropriate.

The Friary School will prevent inequalities through:

  • Monitoring students’ academic progress and behaviour so that appreciate interventions can be actioned to prevent under-performance.
  • Discretely monitoring all aspects of personal and social development for students so that any inequalities can be addressed as appropriate.

Further Information

Further information about our preventing of inequalities can be viewed in the Policies section of this website via:

  • Accessibility Plan
  • Admissions Policy
  • Anti-Bullying Policy
  • Behaviour Policy
  • Careers, Education, Information & Guidance Policy
  • Equalities Policy
  • SEND Policy
  • SEND Local Offer
  • Teaching, Learning & Assessment Policy

If you have further queries about equalities, then please contact Matt Allman, Headteacher via office@friaryschool.co.uk.