Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at FPPF
Our Statement
As part of Furze Platt Primary Federation, the Governors and Staff at Furze Platt infant and Junior Schools are committed to providing all pupils with a curriculum which provides equality of opportunity and freedom from discrimination. We are committed to overcoming discriminative and prejudice attitudes with an approach which seeks to raise consciousness and develop healthy attitudes.
At Furze Platt Primary Federation, we do not discriminate against anyone, be they staff or pupil, on the grounds of any of the protected nine characteristics.
We promote the principles of fairness and justice for all through the education we provide and ensure that all pupils have equal access to the full range of educational opportunities provided by the school.
We constantly strive to remove any forms of indirect discrimination that may form barriers to learning.
We ensure that all recruitment, employment, promotion and training systems are fair to all, and provide opportunities for everyone to achieve.
We challenge stereotyping and prejudice whenever it occurs. We celebrate the cultural diversity of our community and show respect for all minority groups.
Our ethos and core beliefs:
We will always consider our communities heritage, religion, beliefs and cultures when making decisions for our school development.
Every pupil, regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or ability/disability, is expected and encouraged to reach their potential by staff in these schools. These expectations are underpinned by our monitoring of the achievement of pupils to pinpoint and tackle underperformance.
We will review schemes of work, lesson content, our classroom and wider environments to ensure that we are representative and promoting a culture and ethos of diversity, equality and inclusiveness.
We will set ourselves annual development areas, based on our monitoring, that continue our DEI journey; acknowledging that the journey is never over.
Our Curriculum:
We will celebrate and ensure appropriate coverage of the heritages, religions, beliefs and cultures in lessons.
We will ensure that resources and literature represent, promote and celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion.
We are committed to having a balanced 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 instead promotes inclusive attitudes. We will also respect the right of parents to withdraw their children from classes which pose conflicts to their own beliefs.
We will ensure that our PSHE curriculum delivers additional explicit teaching and discussion lessons that tackle these key focuses in an age appropriate way for our pupils.
We will ensure that our curriculum meets the needs of people with all of the protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010and extend understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion to all learners.
Equality and dignity in the workplace.
Furze Platt Primary Federation does not discriminate in any way against the nine protected characteristics. Equality of opportunity and non-discrimination extends to the treatment of all members of the school community.
All staff members are obliged to act in accordance will the federation’s various policies relating to equality and inclusion.
Our employees and potential employees:
We will guarantee that no redundancy or non-appointment (through the job application process) is the result of direct or indirect prejudice. All disciplinary procedures are non-prejudicial, whether they result in warnings, dismissal, or any other disciplinary action.
We will provide staff with relevant and up to date CPD to help develop their understanding of DEI. Empowered and knowledgeable staff will develop their ownership and their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
We will provide Flexible working opportunities for our staff to support their own work life balance, opportunities and career paths.
The federation’s employees will not:
• Discriminate against any member of the school.
• Treat other members of the school unfairly.
The school’s employee’s will:
• Promote diversity equality.
• Encourage and adopt an inclusive attitude.
• Actively seek to appoint a diverse workforce that reflects our community
• Lead by example
Our opportunities:
We will link this key focus to our work on cultural capital (Equity of Education) to ensure that opportunities reflect our diverse stakeholders and community and that we actively seek to use our communities rich and diverse make up to support our pupil’s education and development.
Our duties under the Equality Act 2010
At Furze Platt Primary Federation, we welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010. The school’s general duties, with regards to equality are:
• Eliminating discrimination.
• Fostering healthy relationships.
• Advancing equality of opportunity.
We will not discriminate against, harass or victimise any pupil, prospective pupil, or other member of the school community because of their:
• Gender.
• Marital or civil status.
• Age
• Race.
• Disability.
• Religion or belief.
• Sexual orientation.
• Gender reassignment.
• Pregnancy or maternity.
Furze Platt Primary Federation aims to promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, with special emphasis on promoting equality, diversity inclusiveness and eradicating prejudicial incidents for pupils and staff. Our federation is committed to not only eliminating discrimination, but also increasing understanding and appreciation for diversity, equality and inclusiveness.
Aims to eradicate discrimination
Furze Platt Primary Federation believes that a greater level of success from pupils and staff can be achieved by realising the uniqueness of individuals. Creating a prejudice-free environment where individuals feel confident and at ease is a commitment of the federation. This environment will be achieved by:
• Being respectful (key federation value).
• Always treating all members of the school community fairly (linked to our behaviour policy).
• Developing an understanding of diversity and the benefits it can have.
• Adopting an inclusive attitude.
• Adopting an inclusive curriculum that is accessible to all.
• Encouraging compassion and open-mindedness.
• Ensuring an Equity of education through Cultural Capital.
Anti-Racism
It is the right of all pupils to receive the best education each school can provide, with access to all educational activities organised by the schools. We do not tolerate any forms of racism or racist behaviour. Should a racist incident occur, we will act immediately to prevent any repetition of the incident.
We endeavour to make our school welcoming to all groups. We promote an understanding of different cultures through the topics studied by the pupils, and we reflect this in the displays of work shown around the school.
Our curriculum reflects the attitudes, values and respect that we have for minority ethnic groups. So, for example, the history curriculum celebrates the acts of Sir Nicholas Winton and Mary Seacole. In the religious education curriculum topic on religious festivals, the children study the importance of Diwali to Hindus and Sikhs. Should anyone at our school be a victim of racism, we will do all we can to support that person in overcoming any difficulties they may have.
Gender equality
We are committed to ensuring equal treatment of all our employed, pupils and visitors, regardless of sex or sexual orientation. No-one will be treated less favourably in any procedures, practices and aspects of school life. At Furze Platt Primary Federation, we will not tolerate harassment of people based on their sex or sexual orientation.
Staff at school will challenge gender stereotyping and promote positive role models.
Disability equality
We are committed to ensuring equal treatment of all its staff, pupils and visitors, with any form of disability and will ensure that disabled people are not treated less favourably in any procedures, practices and aspects of school life.
Furze Platt Primary federation is a Disability Confident Employer
We recognise that disability is not caused by the individual(s), but by the physical, environmental and attitudinal barriers which exist in the education system and in society as a whole.
Our schools will actively seek to:
· promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and other persons
· eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the Act
· eliminate harassment of disabled persons that is related to their disabilities
· promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons
· encourage participation by disabled persons in full school life
· take steps to take account of disabled persons’ disabilities
Dealing with prejudice
Furze Platt Primary Federation does not tolerate any form of prejudice-related incident. Whether direct or indirect, we treat discrimination against all members of our schools with the utmost severity. When an incident is reported, through a thorough reporting procedure, our federation is devoted to ensuring appropriate action is taken and a resolution is put into place which is both fair and firm.
At Furze Platt Primary Federation, our pupils are taught to be:
• Understanding of others.
• Celebratory of cultural diversity.
• Tolerant for those of different faiths and beliefs (British Value)
• Eager to reach their full potential.
• Inclusive.
• Aware of what constitutes discriminatory behaviour.
The pupils are taught through discrete PSHE lessons and also through the subject topics, circle time, assemblies and across the breadth of the curriculum.
Equality and Accessibility Objectives 2023-26
To increase awareness of the whole school community of the FPPF Equity of Experiences.
Develop our PSHE curriculum to further embed our values alongside the British Values
Raise staff awareness of EDI and confidence in delivering a diverse and inclusive curriculum
To ensure that all children have an accessible curriculum to support their academic progress
To ensure that all children can access the same enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities
Ensure that our recruitment is accessible to all applicants and actively promotes and encourages EDI
To ensure that facilities are suited to individual preferences and all visitors/staff feel valued.
To ensure the school is accessible for wheelchair users
Please see policy and documentation below for full details.