As a school, we are actively engaging in work around race, diversity, equity and inclusion and we want our children to be able to talk confidently about their own race and identity.

As educators we have a key role to play in ensuring our community feel included and listened to. Senior leaders have undertaken a year long course on race and identity. Please click on the PowerPoint to see some of the work we have undertaken.

Public Sector Equality Duty

The Equality Act 2010 requires us to publish information that demonstrates that we have due regard for the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful  discrimination, harassment, victimisation  and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 replaces previous anti-discrimination legislation with a single Act. The Equality Duty is set out in section 149 of the Act. It replaces the three previous public sector equality duties – for race, disability and gender – and covers the nine protected characteristics:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership (but only in respect of eliminating unlawful discrimination)
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race, including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

Our vision is rooted in John 10:10 ‘living life in all its fullness.’  Our four vision words, which shape our school community are Invite, Include, Imagine, Inspire. 

Our DEI mission is to promote equality of opportunity across all protected characteristics.  Every member of the school community should feel safe, secure, valued and of equal worth.   At St Peter’s, equality is a key principle for treating all people fairly and creating a society in which everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential - irrespective of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

It is rooted in the following key 7 principles:

1. All learners are of equal value. Whether or not they are disabled, whatever their ethnicity, culture, national origin or national status, whatever their gender and gender identity, whatever their religious or non-religious affiliation or faith background and whatever their sexual orientation.

2. We recognize, respect and value difference and understand that diversity is a strength. We take account of differences and strive to remove barriers and disadvantages which people may face, in relation to age, disability, race, gender, religion, belief or faith and sexual orientation. We believe that diversity is a strength, which should be respected and celebrated by all those who learn, teach and visit here.

3. We use our Christian values to foster positive attitudes and relationships. We actively promote positive attitudes and mutual respect between groups and communities different from each other.

4. We foster a shared sense of cohesion and belonging. We want all members of our school community to feel a sense of belonging within the school and wider community and to feel that they are respected and able to participate fully in school life.

5. We observe good equalities practice for our staff. We ensure that policies and procedures benefit all employees and potential employees in all aspects of their work, including in recruitment and promotion, and in continuing professional development.

6. We have the highest expectations of all our children. We expect that all pupils can make good progress and achieve to their highest potential.

7. We work to raise standards for all pupils, but especially for the most vulnerable. We believe that improving the quality of education for the most vulnerable groups of pupils raises standards across the whole school.

Our values underpin our commitment to equality.  They reflect the inclusive, welcoming, Christian nature of our school, underpin our teaching and learning, and provide an environment which prepares our pupils as confident, happy citizens. Our eight values are Koinonia, peace, respect, thankfulness, hope, compassion, joy, love

Our Equality Objectives 2021-2024 are:

Objective 1: To cultivate an inclusive culture that champions DEI.

Objective 2: To monitor and analyse pupil achievement by race, gender and disability and act on any trends or patterns in the data that require additional support for pupils.

Objective 3:  To raise levels of attainment in core subjects for vulnerable learners.

Our Equality Policy further outlines the school's objectives and intentions regarding equality.

On a yearly basis, we will review the objectives, possibly adding further objectives if needed, all as part of our aim to ensure success for each and every child in our school.

Policy adopted July 2023

Policy review July 2024