At Oak Hill, equality is a key principle for treating all people the same irrespective of their race, disability, sex, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or gender reassignment in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty set out in the Equality Act 2010.  Accordingly, we have due regard to the need to:

• eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act
• advance equality of opportunity between people from different groups
• foster good relations between people from different groups.

We believe that equality at Oak Hill should permeate all aspects of school life and is the responsibility of every member of the school and the wider community.  Everyone should feel safe, secure, valued and of equal worth.

The following School policies note the importance of avoiding discrimination and other prohibited conduct.  The School’s adherence to these policies is one of the ways in which we aim to advance equality of opportunity between people from different groups.  Full copies of the policies can either be viewed on the policies page of this website or are available from the School office.

• Absence from work
• Assessment and record keeping
• Charging
• Child Protection / Safeguarding
• Complaints policy and procedure
• Confidentiality
• Curriculum
• Disability Equality scheme
• Educational Visits
• Equal Opportunities
• Exclusion of Pupils
• EYFS
• Gender Equality Scheme
• Geography
• History
• ICT policy
• Learning and teaching
• Literacy
• Maths
• Modern foreign languages
• Multicultural and diversity
• Pay
• Physical education
• Positive Behaviour
• Racial Equality
• Religious Education
• Special Educational Needs
• Spiritual development
• Stress management

As a Church of England School, fostering good relations between people of different groups (including people of different religions, beliefs and cultures) is central to our ethos.  We do this in the following ways, amongst others:

• Promoting tolerance and friendship through assemblies and group worship
• Educating our pupils through the curriculum about people with different protected characteristics, and the importance of tolerance and friendship
• Involvement with the local community

We aim to advance equality of opportunity between people of different groups in the following ways, amongst others:

• Using staff meetings and Governors’ Curriculum Committee meetings to analyse data about the performance of different groups of pupils within the School.
• Planning practical steps, and developing policies, which can be implemented in order to redress any differences which have been identified.  The Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher will do this in consultation with the Governors’ Curriculum and Finance/Personnel committees in order to ensure that resources are directed appropriately.

These are the Equality Objectives we set in January 2013.  They are to be reviewed in January 2016.

• Educate all about discrimination and prejudice and promote a harmonious environment (social cohesion) through direct teaching across the curriculum.  (This is to be measured via an analysis of initiatives which have been undertaken e.g. incorporating equality issues into ‘values’ teaching)
• Narrow the gap between boys and girls in KS1 writing. (This is to be measured via SATS data).
• Raise awareness about equality issues and the School’s equality duties amongst Governors. (This is to be measured via training records and minutes of Governors’ meetings).
• Ensure staff recruitment is carried out in line with equal opportunities legislation.  (This is to be measured via an analysis of equal opportunities monitoring data.)