Equality and Inclusion
At Our Lady & St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we are committed to creating a welcoming community where everyone feels valued, respected and included. Rooted in our Catholic faith, we recognise the dignity of every person and work to ensure that all children have the opportunity to learn, participate and succeed.
Our commitment extends to pupils, staff, governors, volunteers, parents, carers and visitors.
Our Commitment to Equality
We are committed to eliminating unlawful discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and building positive relationships across our school community.
Under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty, we must have due regard to the need to:
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Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other prohibited conduct.
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Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.
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Foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.
We also recognise the barriers that socio-economic disadvantage can create and consider these when planning support and opportunities.
Equality in Everyday School Life
Our Equality Policy sets out how we work towards these aims through:
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Inclusive teaching: identifying barriers to learning and adapting teaching, resources and support.
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Reasonable adjustments: working with individuals and families to support disabled pupils, staff and applicants.
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A representative curriculum: using learning experiences, books and resources that reflect diversity, challenge stereotypes and encourage respect.
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Participation: considering access to school activities, visits and wider opportunities.
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Tackling discrimination: recording, investigating and responding to prejudice-based incidents.
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Staff development: providing training on equality responsibilities and inclusive practice.
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Fair employment practices: promoting equality in recruitment, training and professional development.
Accessibility
Our Accessibility Plan sets out how we aim to improve access to the curriculum, the school environment and information for disabled pupils.
Please contact the school office if you need information in an alternative format or would like to discuss an accessibility requirement.
Monitoring and Review
School leaders and governors monitor equality information and review progress against our equality objectives. This helps us identify barriers, evaluate support and plan improvements while protecting individuals’ confidentiality.
Raising a Concern
If you have a concern about equality, discrimination or access to school life, please speak to your child’s class teacher or a member of the leadership team.
Concerns involving the Headteacher or a governor can be directed to the Chair of Governors by emailing school@olsj.org.uk, with “FAO Chair of Governors” in the subject line.
Policies and Further Information
Copies and alternative formats are available on request from the school office.