Prep School Boarding & Day Equal Opportunities Policy
Equal Opportunities Policy
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY (EYFS to Y8)
Boarding Standard: 18
Aims
• To give every member of the school a sense of worth and personal esteem.
• To enable individuals to develop and grow to their full potential.
• To recognise that all have both abilities and needs.
• To avoid stereotyping.
• To avoid attaching negative language to any group.
• To encourage mutual respect.
• To celebrate differences between people of different backgrounds whilst acknowledging that people have much in common.
• To provide positive role models for pupils of all backgrounds.
• To value the role of parents and the wider community in the school.
In the furtherance of these aims, the school will strive to pursue these guidelines in the various facets of its life.
The school as a Multi-Faith Community
• Whilst the school is predominantly Christian, it will welcome the insights of other World faiths.
• Assemblies will take account of and value the traditions of other faiths.
• Religious education will promote an understanding of and respect for the major World faiths.
• There will be sensitivity to religions and cultural customs in all areas of school life, including diet and uniform.
The School as a Co-educational Establishment
• The school will foster equal rights and opportunities to pupils regardless of gender.
• Wherever and whenever possible girls and boys will be taught, will socialise and will be rewarded in the same way without distinction.
• The school will ensure that in the language it uses at all times there will be due consideration for the issues of gender and bias.
• In class there should be a mix of boys and girls rather than all boys or girls sitting together, PHSE may be an exception on occasions.
The School’s Atmosphere and Environment
• The school will provide a welcoming atmosphere and an environment, which is safe for all its members.
• Relationships within the school will be governed by mutual respect between all its members and behaviour shall include the common courtesies.
• Displays in the school will reflect the diversity of its intake and the achievements of all levels of ability.
• Anti-social behaviour will be dealt with in a way which is just and fair for all pupils.
• The school will be kept free of graffiti, and offensive graffiti will be dealt with as a priority.
The School’s Teaching Resources
• The school will seek to understand the nature of bias in teaching resources so as to ensure the careful selection of textbooks and other materials to avoid stereotypes.
• The school will seek to use the diversity of its pupils, their parents and the communities from which they come as important resources.
The School’s Curriculum Organisation
• The fundamental unit of teaching groups for each new intake will be mixed ability groups encompassing the full range of faith backgrounds and communities from which pupils come.
• The school will strive to make the curriculum accessible to all regardless of ability, race, culture or physical disability.
• In subjects which are set according to achievement, we will provide support to encourage the proportional representation of pupils by gender and race.
• The school will ensure that stereotyped images of subjects are avoided.
Language and Dialect in the School
• The school will encourage pupils to take a pride in their first language.
• The school will provide support for pupils whose first language is not English.
• Dialects are an important part of cultural and racial heritage and therefore shall not be ridiculed or seen as inferior.
• Negative and abusive language shall not be used.
• Language should not reinforce prejudicial stereotypes.
Monitoring of the School’s Equal Opportunities Policy
Our progress in achieving equal opportunity will be monitored through:
• Progress reports and internal examination results.
• External examination results.
• The composition of sets where setting arrangements are used in different subjects.
• Internal referrals for misbehaviour.
• Exclusions from the school.
• Parental support at meetings.
• Pupil destinations at 11+ and 13+.
It is the aim of Clayesmore Prep to foster an atmosphere in which no person involved should be discriminated against or discriminate, on the grounds of gender, race or culture. Furthermore, positive images of other cultures should be, at all times, encouraged. An Equal Opportunities Statement is on view around the school in selected areas.