The Equalities Scheme and Objectives sets out our school’s overall commitment to equality, diversity, human rights and community cohesion, which permeates in all our policies and procedures. It aims to ensure that everybody who comes into contact with our school community is valued and respected. It aims to promote equality of opportunity and eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation. It contains an approach to all the groups of people with protected characteristics identified by the Equalities Act 2010. It also sets out our specific school objectives and it outlines how the school will incorporate the scheme within our day-to-day school life.

Our scheme includes our whole school; i.e. pupils, staff, governors, parents and carers and all those within our extended school community, such as neighbouring schools and learning organisations.

Whilst the document also serves to outline our statutory duties under the Equality Act 2010, more importantly it allows us to focus on making our school a fair, respectful and inclusive place, with an aim to improve outcomes that matter to our school community.

Introduction
The role of an equalities scheme is to visibly set out our priorities for action to improve chances, choices and outcomes in the lives of different groups of people and measure how we are doing to attain them.

The Equality Act 2010 covers discrimination, harassment, and victimisation because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. These categories of people are listed as protected groups because of their characteristics. There is recognition of the complexity of mulitiple needs and disadvantage. Our Equality Scheme includes our priorities and actions to eliminate discrimination and harassment from these protected characteristics as well as promoting a culture of human rights, respect and dignity.

Epworth Education trust and its schools recognises our responsibilities with regard to the Equality Act 2010 and compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty having due regard to the need to:

•  Eliminate discrimination and other conduct that is prohibited by the act
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it
• Foster good relations across all characteristics – between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

As a Trust we aim: 

• to promote equal treatment within the Trust for all members of the Trust community;
•  to communicate the commitment of the Trust to the promotion of equal opportunities;
• to create and maintain an open and supportive environment which is free from discrimination;
• to foster mutual tolerance and positive attitudes so that everyone can feel valued within the Trust; and
•  to actively promote and safeguard the welfare of children, staff and others who come into contact with the Trust.

To further these aims and having considered our school’s context and tracking data, we have identified priority areas and thus our school Equality Objectives which we feel will make a significant difference to our school community and ensure real, tangible outcomes for identified groups.

Our School Equality Objectives:

Equality Plan 2023-2027

Aim	How?	How will we measure?	Progress made
To enable pupils to understand, appreciate and respect difference in the world and its people, celebrating the things we share in common across cultural, religious, ethnic and socio-economic communities	Challenge pre-conceived perceptions Ensure the ‘No Outsiders’ programme is implemented consistently throughout the year as part of the PSHE curriculum and collective worship Carefully plan for and select visitors to school and visits outside of school so they reflect a diverse community wider than their local context	Evaluation of curriculum and worship plan regularly Monitor impact through pupil voice	Summer 2024 'No Outsiders' is embedded as part of school ethos and culture. In the Ofsted inspection in Nov 2023, the following comments were made: 'Pupils explained to inspectors how everyone is welcome at their school. They enjoy supporting and taking care of each other. Pupils demonstrate exceptionally high levels of respect and sensitivity towards others who may be different to themselves.'
Increase participation of minority or protected groups in wider school life, e.g trips, after school activities, cultural activities	Invite minority and protected groups to additional activities and review & address any barriers on an individual basis.  Encourage and support minority and protected groups to represent their class on whole school committees	Tracking of club registers takes places termly and patterns identified to ensure the right clubs are being provided to the right children at the right time. Provide additional subsidy from the pupil premium fund to minimise barriers based on financial constraints	Summer 2024 This has been a priority with careful tracking of groups and uptake in wider school opportunities demonstrating breadth of opportunity for all. This has been a particular focus for the increasing school SEN population. Again, Oftsed recognised, 'The school provides impressive support for pupils’ wider development.'
Narrow the attainment gap in reading, writing and mathematics between disadvantaged and other children.	Prioritise disadvantaged pupils when selecting groups for boosters and school led tuition. Ensure first quality teaching and assessments take place so children are identified early	Termly data analysis and pupil progress meetings prioritise the discussion around DAP and their attainment in comparison to others to ensure the support available is effective.	Summer 2024 Progress for DAP pupils is good from starting points as shown in in-year pupil data. Interventions are taking place that are having positive impact. This is shown in class provision maps.