Equality

At Hatfield Peverel and Infant School, we believe that everyone in our school is of equal value and should have equal opportunities in school, the community and in life. We believe we are welcoming, supportive and inclusive. 

Many people in our society are discriminated against and treated as if they are worth less than others because of their race, religion or language; because of their gender or sexuality; because of their class or because of a disability. This will not be tolerated in our school.

People are individuals and therefore different. They have different protected characteristics and different contributions to make to the life of our school and of the community. 

Equal opportunities is not about treating everybody the same. It is about meeting people’s individual needs and appreciating their individual strengths and gifts. We are all different and should all be equally valued. 

Public Sector Equality Duty

At Hatfield Peverel Infant and Nursery School we are committed to ensuring the equality of education and opportunity for all pupils, staff, parents / carers, irrespective of race, gender, disability, faith, religion or socio-economic background. We aim to develop a culture of inclusion and diversity in which all those connected to the school feel proud of their identity and able to participate fully in school life.

The single Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) came into effect in April 2011 as a result of the Equality Act 2020 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents. It requires public bodies to promote equality and replaced three pre-existing duties relating to disability, race and gender equality.

The PSED applies to all maintained and independent schools, including academies, and maintained and non-maintained special schools.

Three Main Elements

Paragraph 5.1 of the document explains that the PSED has three main elements. In carrying out their functions, public bodies are required to have due regard to the need to:

Eliminate discrimination and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act 2010

Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

Foster good relations across all characteristics, and between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

Protected Characteristics

The Department for Education (DfE) has published non-statutory advice https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/315587/Equality_Act_Advice_Final.pdf that sets out schools’ obligations under the PSED. The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies to promote equality. Paragraph 5.1 explains that the PSED extends to the following protected characteristics:

age

disability

gender reassignment

marriage and civil partnership

pregnancy and maternity

race

religion or belief

sex

sexual orientation

Our approach to equality is based on the following 7 key principles.

1. All learners are of equal value. Whether or not they are disabled, whatever their ethnicity, culture, national origin or national status, whatever their gender and gender identity, whatever their religious or non-religious affiliation or faith background and whatever their sexual orientation.
2. We recognise, respect and value difference and understand that diversity is a strength. We take account of differences and strive to remove barriers and disadvantages which people may face, in relation to age, disability, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity. We believe that diversity is a strength, which should be respected and celebrated by all those who learn, teach and visit here.
3. We foster positive attitudes and relationships. We actively promote positive attitudes and mutual respect between groups and communities different from each other.
4. We foster a shared sense of cohesion and belonging. We want all members of our school community to feel a sense of belonging within the school and wider community and to feel that they are respected and able to participate fully in school life.
5. We observe good equalities practice for our staff. We ensure that policies and procedures benefit all employees and potential employees in all aspects of their work, including in recruitment and promotion, and in continuing professional development.
6. We have the highest expectations of all our children. We expect that all pupils can make good progress and achieve to their highest potential.
7. We work to raise standards for all pupils, but especially for the most vulnerable. We believe that improving the quality of education for the most vulnerable groups of pupils raises standards across the whole school.

The children at Hatfield Peverel Infant and Nursery School learn about the British Values and foster mutual respect for each other. Our children care and look after each other, our school and for those who share these protected characteristics. We do not tolerate any forms of discrimination and our children learn that we show tolerance for everyone and for all those who share the protected characteristics.