Equality Information

The basic equality between all human beings has always been fundamental to Catholic belief and teaching.

St John Fisher Catholic Primary School acknowledges and welcomes diversity among pupils, staff, governors and visitors. The staff and governors are committed to promoting equality by tackling the barriers, which could lead to unequal outcomes so that there is equality of access and the diversity within the school community. We believe that equality at our school should permeate all aspects of school life and is the responsibility of every member of the school and wider community.

Every member of the school community should feel safe, secure, valued and of equal worth. At St John Fisher School equality is a key principle for treating all people the same, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, disability, religious beliefs/faith tradition, sexual orientation, age or any other of the protected characteristics (Single Equalities Act 2010). We promote the principles of fairness and justice for all through the education that we provide in our school.

We aim to promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, with special emphasis on promoting equality and diversity, and eradicating prejudicial incidents for pupils and staff. Our school is committed to not only eliminating discrimination, but also increasing understanding and appreciation for diversity.

We believe that a greater level of success from pupils and staff can be achieved by realising the uniqueness of individuals. Creating an inclusive environment where individuals feel confident and at ease is a commitment of the school. This environment will be achieved by:

· Being respectful.

· Always treating all members of the school community fairly.

· Developing an understanding of diversity and inclusion and the benefits it can have.

· Adopting an inclusive attitude and ensuring that the whole school community understands what inclusive behaviour looks like in the school and how this aligns with the school’s values.

· Challenging bias and calling it out in order to move the conversation forward.

· Ensuring policies and procedures take into account equal opportunities and these considerations form a key part of considerations prior to implementation or amendment of a policy.

· Promoting a culture where pupils, staff and parents feel able to share concerns and worries generally, but also particularly for those individuals who have a protected characteristic.

We are committed to having a balanced, diverse and fair curriculum. We believe that our pupils should be exposed to ideas and concepts that may challenge their understanding, to help ensure that pupils learn to become more accepting and inclusive of others. Challenging and controversial concepts will be delivered in a way that prevents discrimination and promotes inclusive attitudes.