Eliminating discrimination and Enhancing Equality at Rice Lane

The school follows advice from the Department of Education ‘The Equality Act 2010 and Schools’.

The Act makes it unlawful for the school to discriminate against, harass or victimize a pupil or potential pupil:

• In relation to admissions
• In the way it provides education for pupils
• In the way it provides pupils access to any benefit, facility or service or
• By excluding a pupil or subjecting them to any other detriment

We hope this webpage will explain how we as a school eliminate discrimination and enhance equality through our values and ethos, curriculum content and everyday “due regards”.

Admissions

Admissions to Rice Lane as a maintained school, is determined only by a child’s age. If a year group is over-subscribed the child will be placed on a waiting list until a place becomes available. Intake into the Reception year is determined by the Local Authority.

Curriculum

The content of the Curriculum has been rigorously checked to ensure it complies with the Act. Delivery of the curriculum has been addressed with teaching staff through training, to ensure sensitive subjects such as ‘Relationships and Sex Education’ are delivered sensitively and appropriately.

• All children participate equally in all curriculum learning opportunities
• All resources are equally shared out, and all pupils are given equal access

Acts of Worship

The school delivers the mandatory daily acts of collective worship, which is broadly of a Christian nature. However, this is supplemented by the Religious Education Curriculum. Children will have the opportunity for an in depth study of the major religions of the world, while having opportunities to debate ethical and spiritual viewpoints. We always try to raise awareness and knowledge of all religious festivals, marking it in the school calendar of events.

Uniform

The governing body of Rice Lane has set the school uniform. Differences in dress requirements for boys and girls are standard. However, parents have the right to ask for flexibility in the school uniform in order to meet the needs of his / her child e.g. a child has a skin condition which means they cannot wear a certain fabric.

Bullying

Bullying motivated by a prejudice is taken very seriously by the school and dealt with equally and firmly.

Gender Reassignment

Rice Lane makes sure all gender variant pupils or the children of transgender parents are not singled out for different and less favourable treatment from that given to other pupils.

Race

Rice Lane makes sure pupils of all races are not singled out for different and less favourable treatment from that given to other pupils. As a school we promote equality of opportunity and good race relations.

Religion or belief (this also refers to lack of religion or a lack of belief)

Rice Lane makes sure pupils are not discriminated against because of religion or belief. We ensure all teachers do not discriminate against a pupil because of his/her own personal religious views.

Sex/Gender

Rice Lane makes sure that pupils of one sex are not singled out for less favourable treatment from that given to other pupils. We ensure all genders are given the same learning opportunities and we actively promote gender equality.

Sexual orientation and marriage and civil partnership

Rice Lane makes sure that all gay, lesbian or bi-sexual pupils or the children of gay, lesbian or bi-sexual parents, are not singled out for different and less favourable treatment from that given to any other pupils. When teaching about sexual orientation and marriage through ‘Relationship and sex education’, we train our staff to deliver this in a sensitive, reasonable, respectful and balanced way.

Disability

Disability Provision at Rice lane complies with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The schools accessibility plan ensures that the building is accessible to all people. The school has recently installed an auxiliary aid (hearing loop) to support individual children with auditory processing disorder. The school takes pro-active steps to make reasonable adjustments to tackle disability discrimination so to avoid disadvantage. This can be through providing extra teaching support, extra resources, or making sure provision is suitable for any out of school excursions.

The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)

• Rice Lane Governors and Managers have awareness of ‘due regard’ when making a decision or taking an action and assess whether it may have particular implications for people with particular protected characteristics.
• Rice Lane considers equality implications before and at the time that policies are developed and decisions made.
• The PSED is integrated into everyday life of the schools. The duty is carried out seriously, rigorously and with an open mind.

Positive Action

Target measures to alleviate disadvantages

• Encourage boys and girls and pupils from different ethnic backgrounds to participate in a full range of school activities
• Attainment data analysed regularly to show how pupils with different characteristic are performing, in particular in helping to identify whether there are areas of inequality which may need to be addressed.
• Foster good relations between people and community which promote tolerance and friendship – greater involvement with the local community, developing assemblies that deal with relevant issues, continue to use initiatives to deal with tensions between different groups of pupils within the school itself.