What is the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)?

The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), introduced by the Equality Act 2010, requires public bodies, including schools, to have due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not

At Hope Community School, we take this responsibility seriously. Our inclusive ethos is built on mutual respect, fairness and the celebration of diversity. We are committed to creating a learning environment in which everyone can thrive and feel safe.

Protected Characteristics

The Equality Act 2010 outlines nine protected characteristics, which are:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

Hope Community School recognises and actively works to ensure that all members of our school community are treated with respect and dignity, regardless of any of these characteristics.

The School’s Current Equality Objectives Are:

1. Achievement for All Pupils

We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and close achievement gaps where they exist. We regularly monitor data across different groups, including ethnicity, gender, disability, religion and socio-economic background, to support each child’s learning journey.

2. Behaviour and Attendance

We promote community cohesion and work to eliminate barriers to good behaviour and attendance for all pupils.

What Does Our School Do to Eliminate Discrimination?

Hope Community School is committed to ensuring equality for all pupils and staff. We:

• Provide a broad, balanced and appropriate curriculum for all learners.
• Foster an ethos that values and respects all individuals and their backgrounds.
• Monitor and review practices to promote equality and eliminate bias - intentional or unintentional.
• Recognise and celebrate individual strengths and achievements to promote self-esteem.
• Create inclusive classroom environments that reflect differentiation and diversity.
• Establish strong, two-way communication with families and the community.

We are proactive in educating pupils about equality, diversity and inclusion through our curriculum, assemblies, enrichment activities, and our school culture. We take incidents of discrimination seriously and respond appropriately in line with our behaviour policy.

Due Regard to Equality Considerations

Our school ensures that we have due regard to equality considerations when making significant decisions. We actively consider the potential impact of decisions on pupils and staff who share protected characteristics. This includes, but is not limited to, planning school trips and events with consideration for religious observances, accessibility for pupils with disabilities, and ensuring inclusive and equivalent opportunities for all genders. Equality considerations are discussed and documented during relevant decision-making processes, such as SLT meetings, policy reviews, and curriculum planning.

As part of our ongoing commitment to equality, we keep a brief written record of these considerations.

Equality Information & Objectives

Our Commitment:

Hope Community School is committed to upholding the rights of all children and adults within our school community. We value cultural diversity and work to provide an environment free from discrimination and harassment.

We ensure equal opportunities in staffing, curriculum access, and school policies by:

• Analysing pupil achievement and well-being data
• Providing training for staff
• Making reasonable adjustments for disabilities
• Encouraging pupil voice and participation
• Promoting respectful behaviour and inclusive language

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Policy:

We strive to:

• Promote individuality and the celebration of differences
• Ensure equal access to education for all pupils, regardless of background or ability
• Eliminate discrimination in all forms
• Create positive learning experiences that reflect diversity and promote respect
• Tackle issues of disadvantage and underachievement through evidence-based strategies

We believe that equality is everyone’s responsibility. Governors, school leaders, staff, pupils and parents are all partners in creating a respectful and inclusive school culture.

Information on Persons with Relevant Protected Characteristics

Information on how our policies and practices impact pupils with protected characteristics can be found across our key documents, including the Equality Objectives, EDI Policy, and Accessibility Plan, all of which can be seen on the Key Documents page above.