EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

EQUALITY DUTY STATEMENT

INTRODUCTION

This document describes how Twickenham Primary Academy intends to fulfil its responsibilities under the Public Sector Equality Duty with regard to its pupils and its workforce.

The Public Sector Equality Duty requires our Trust to publish information about Equalities, specifically taking the following groups into account.

PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS

1. Age
2. Disability
3. Sex (gender)
4. Race (ethnicity)
5. Pregnancy and Maternity
6. Religion and Belief
7. Sexual Orientation
8. Transgender
9. Marriage and Civil Partnership

The information we publish and analyse must be clearly linked to the three aims (General Duties) of the Public Sector Equality Duty.  General Duties are the things that schools aim to achieve.

GENERAL DUTIES

The three aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty are to:

1. Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act.
2. Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
3. Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

The two specific duties of the Public Sector Equality Duty are intended to help schools meet the general duty. They are to:

1. Set Equality Objectives
2. Publish information

Much of the information and analysis will relate to the school improvement plan, evaluations and pupil data – we use this information to improve education for all groups in our academy.  We want to make sure we know which pupils are doing well and less well so we can plan and improve. The same applies to our employees.

We work hard to gather this information and it is already being used by our academies to develop their practice and improve outcomes for our pupils.  We will use information which tells us we could be doing better to plan for the future and include these actions in our Equalities Objectives.

More information can be found in our Equality Policy below.

TWICKENHAM PRIMARY ACADEMY EQUALITY OBJECTIVES

Our Equality Objectives

At Twickenham Primary Academy, we are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment where all members of our community feel respected, valued and able to achieve their full potential. In line with the Equality Act 2010, we have set the following equality objectives:

1. Staff and Governor Awareness
   We will ensure that all staff and governors are aware of current equality and diversity legislation and understand their responsibilities in upholding the school’s commitment to inclusion and fairness.

2. Monitoring Pupil Outcomes
   We will regularly monitor and analyse pupil achievement and progress by characteristics such as race, gender, special educational needs, disability, and eligibility for pupil premium. We will use this information to provide targeted support where needed and close any gaps.

3. Promoting Cultural Understanding
   We will promote cultural understanding, tolerance, and respect for different religious beliefs and ethnic backgrounds across the school community.

4. Parental and Pupil Engagement
   We aim to increase engagement in school life among all pupils and families, including attendance and participation in learning and wider activities. We will also work to raise aspirations and challenge stereotypes, including around gender and career opportunities.

5. Mental Health and Wellbeing
   We will promote mental health awareness across the school and develop appropriate support and interventions to help all pupils thrive.

6. Closing Gaps in Progress
   We are committed to closing gaps in progress and attainment between different groups of pupils, particularly those with SEND, pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds, children in care, and those eligible for the pupil premium.

7. Respectful Language and Behaviour
   We will monitor and address the use of discriminatory language, including homophobic, sexist and racist terms, and promote a culture of respectful behaviour throughout the school.

8. Inclusive Curriculum
   We will continue to review and develop our curriculum annually to ensure it reflects the diversity of our society and supports pupils to learn about different cultures, identities, and worldviews.

We review our equality objectives regularly and update them at least every four years. These objectives support our work to meet the three aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty. 

Please visit the Policies section of our website to view the Equalities Policy: