Racial Equality Policy
Updated December 14 SMa
EQUALITIES STATEMENT Kingsmeadow School is committed to equal opportunities for all and the policy will be applied equally to all members of the school community regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, age or any disability. We are committed to providing a calm, caring and wellordered environment where everyone feels safe, happy and understands the expectations of attitudes to learning in order to create an ethos conducive to excellent learning and teaching for all. We promote a culture of praise and encouragement and expect consistency of response to both positive and negative behaviour. We believe that positive relationships based on mutual respect, promote positive attitudes to learning and that as students learn by example, all adults within school should act as positive role models with regard to their own behaviour. Equality Targets Everyone at Kingsmeadow School must strive to accept and meet the differing needs and aspirations of all members of the school community, using the human resources and skills available to us all to: 1. Safeguard individuals from all forms of abuse and harassment. We must ensure that victims can be confident of support and, where appropriate redress. We must ensure that aggressors can never claim the excuse of acting out of ignorance. Success Criteria ● Incidents of aggression and bullying are rare and dealt with effectively and outcome of which are recorded on Behaviour Watch. 2. Establish a school ethos built on mutual trust and respect. We should treat others as we would wish to be treated. We should respect other people, their property and school premises. Success Criteria ● Students regularly receive merits and praise for their positive attitudes to learning, respect to others, their school campus and their local community. ● Incidents of disrespectful behaviour are rare and dealt with promptly and effectively and the outcome of which are recorded on Behaviour Watch. 3. Safeguard the rights and freedoms of others. We must actively pursue our aim to help pupils develop personal moral values which respect the values and tolerates differing religious and cultures. Success Criteria ● Racist and homophobic incidents are extremely rare and dealt with promptly and effectively and the outcome of which are recorded on Behaviour Watch. ● Students display tolerance, support of and celebrate other cultures/religions through their work. 4. Develop an organisation which maximises pupil opportunity and experience. We must ensure that the curriculum and other activities encourages and supports the opportunity for all. We must ensure that pupils are not excluded from activities because of status or income. Success Criteria ● All student groups are able to access the curriculum fully and discrete intervention results in specific gaps in student achievement narrowing and in line with the whole school population and national figures. Eg boys, girls, students with SEND and students receiving free school meals.
KINGSMEADOW COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL WHOLE SCHOOL POLICY – RACIAL EQUALITY 1.
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School Setting ● Kingsmeadow Comprehensive is situated in Dunston, Gateshead. ● It currently has a student population of approximately 618 students aged between 11 years and 18 years. ● Currently there are approximately 42 students from ethnic backgrounds. The Aim of the Racial Equality Policy Racial Equality at Kingsmeadow School is about providing equality and excellence for all, including students, staff, governors, parents and community members. This aim is designed to ensure that the school meets the needs of all. Taking account of students varied life experiences and needs. In this school we cater for the diverse needs of students to ensure inclusion for all and that our students are prepared for full participation in a multiethnic society. 2.1 Kingsmeadow School will endeavour to: ● Ensure that all students and staff are encouraged and able to achieve their full potential. ● Respect and value differences between people. ● Prepare students for life in a diverse society. ● Acknowledge the existence of racism and take steps to prevent it in line with LA guidelines. ● Recognise that diversity has a positive role to play within the school. ● Ensure that staff fosters a positive atmosphere of mutual respect and trust among students from all ethnic groups. ● Ensure that school caters for dietary requirements of different religious groups. ● The school enables students and staff to celebrate festivals and events relevant to their particular faith, for example providing a quiet room during periods of fasting or prayer time when and if the need arises. ● Any issues of alleged racism will be investigated thoroughly and dealt with in line with LA policy.
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Responsibilities 3.1 The Governing Body will: ● Ensure that the school complies with Race Relations Legislation. ● Ensure that the policy and its related procedures and strategies are implemented. ● Assess the impact of the policy through the analysis of data relating to performance of all student groups including ethnic minority groups. 3.2 The Headteacher will: ● Work in partnership with the governing body to ensure that the policy and related procedures and strategies are implemented. ● Treat seriously all incidents of racial discrimination and take disciplinary action against staff or students who racially discriminate. ● Ensure that resources, including EMTAS staff, are appropriately targeted and monitored. The identified member of staff dealing with reported incidents of racism or racial harassment is Mrs C Brennan – Deputy Headteacher. In her absence Mrs S Maher Director of Pastoral Care will deal with these incidents. 3.3 All Staff will: ● Report any alleged racist incident to the named person. ● Ensure that they do not discriminate on racial grounds. ● Attend appropriate training and information events organised by the school, EMTAS or the LA. 3.4 Teaching Staff (in addition to all Staff) will: ● Ensure that students from all racial groups have full access to the curriculum with appropriate additional support from EMTAS when necessary. ● Promote racial equality and diversity through teaching and through relations with students, staff, parents and the wider community. ● Ensure high expectation of all students.
3.5 Visitors and Contractors will: ● Be aware of and comply with the school’s Race Equality Policy.
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Teaching and Learning
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Teaching should take account of students’ cultural background, linguistic needs and different learning styles. This will be supported by EMTAS staff with regard to providing and distributing information about cultural background of our ethnic minority students and offering appropriate support for our students.
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Staff should create learning environments where students can contribute fully and feel valued. Teachers should challenge stereotypes and build students’ awareness so that they can detect bias and challenge racial discrimination. During assemblies and tutorial sessions, staff should consistently emphasise the multicultural nature of our society and the school and emphasise the aims of equality.
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Curriculum ● All areas of the curriculum will promote positive attitudes towards diversity. ● Students will have the opportunity to explore concepts and issues relating to identity, racial equality and racism. ● Resources and displays will portray positive images of different people and cultures. ● Role models and presenters from a range of different racial and faith groups will be used to share a wide range of skills and experiences particularly within RE, Guidance and L4L Days. Attainment, Progress and Assessment ● Every effort is made to ensure students are placed appropriately, according to their cognitive ability and needs, within resources available. ● Action will be taken to remove disparities between students from different racial groups. ● At Kingsmeadow we have high expectations of all our students. ● Student attainment and progress are monitored and evaluated to identify trends and patterns of underachievement. ● All students are appropriately supported in assessments, so that they are able to show what they know and what they can do. Readers can be provided where appropriate. Personal Development and Pastoral Care
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Pastoral support takes account of religious and ethnic differences and the needs of particular groups of students such as travellers, refugees and asylum seekers. Pastoral staff will work in partnership with EMTAS staff and Education Welfare staff to support the needs of these students, effectively and sensitively. All students are encouraged to consider the full range of career and post 16 options.
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School will support any student who experiences racism or racial harassment whilst on work experience and take action to ensure there is not a recurrence. Appropriate support is given to victims of racism or racial harassment by pastoral staff with the possibility of referrals to outside supportive agencies such as Refugee Service and the N.E. African Society etc.
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Behaviour, Discipline and Exclusions ● Kingsmeadow School ensures that its procedures for disciplining students and managing behaviour are fair and equitable to students from all racial backgrounds. ● All staff operate consistent systems of rewards and sanctions as part of our Attitudes to Learning Policy. ● Strategies for integrating nonattenders, long term truants and excluded students address the needs of students of all racial groups. ● Analysis of exclusion data ensures that all vulnerable groups including ethnicity of students are tracked to enable access to appropriate support strategies. Racism, Racial Harassment and School Ethos
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Kingsmeadow School actively promotes good personal and community relations. ● Procedures are in place for dealing with racism or racial harassment: o The victim is given immediate comfort and counselling. o Alleged incidents are investigated thoroughly. o If the allegations are found to be true the perpetrator’s parents/carers are informed and an appropriate punishment is given which could be loss of privileges at break, detention or isolation in the Support Zone to complete work on “the impact of our behaviour on others.” Or exclusion if this is a recurring problem. o The parents/carers of the perpetrator are informed that school will complete a report, which will be forwarded to the local authority. o The victim will be offered mediation, restorative justice or counselling. o The victim’s parents will be informed. o Policy may also be informed. ● Staff are instructed to log any incidents of racism or racial harassment with the Support Zone staff as soon as possible after the incident has occurred. Documentation will be completed by Support Zone staff, Director of Pastoral Care (Mrs Maher) or named person Mrs C Brennan, Deputy Headteacher. The documentation will be forwarded to the LA with a record kept in school.
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We are aware that not all racial harassment will take place in the presence of staff therefore a number of incidents may never be reported to staff. Students are encouraged to be aware of racial harassment which is unknown to staff and to understand that everyone has a responsibility to share this knowledge with staff in confidence.
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Categories of Racist Incidents
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Physical assault – hurting, kicking, taking belongings and destroying belongings Verbal – derogatory name calling, teasing, insulting and making racist jokes. Racist graffiti – any sort of racist remarks or comments. Wearing racist badges or insignia. Bringing racist materials, such as leaflets, comics or magazines into school. Incitement of others to behave in a racist way. Racist comments in the course of discussions in lessons. Attempts to recruit to racialist groups. Ridicule of an individual for cultural difference e.g. food, music, dress, language etc. Refusal to cooperate with other people because of their race, colour, ethnicity or language.
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Admissions and Attendance
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The admissions policy and criteria are equally open to students from all ethnic groups. Provision is made for leave of absence for religious observance. This includes staff as well as students. The school will ensure that all parents understand the procedures for school admission and transfer, including the provision of interpretation facilities where appropriate. Information will be collected at admission about students’ ethnicity, language, religion, physical needs and diet. Attendance will be monitored by ethnicity with action taken to remedy any disparities. Provision will be made for any mobile students on extended leave of absence so that they are able to continue with their learning.
Staff Recruitment and Professional Development
● All posts, including those for nonteaching staff, are advertised and open to the widest pool of applicants re the LA Equal Opportunities Policy. 13.
Dealing with Members of Staff
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The LA makes it clear that racist behaviour from any of its employees working in school towards any student, parent or another member of staff, will not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary action being taken against them. All employees must comply with the policy adopted by the school on racial harassment and make sure their actions do not constitute racial harassment. Employees also have a duty to report incidents of racial harassment at work to the Deputy Headteacher, so that appropriate documentation is completed to inform the LA. The Deputy Headteacher will ensure that anyone who is subject to racial harassment receives appropriate support and if necessary counselling. The Headteacher and other senior managers are responsible for taking all reasonable steps to prevent racial harassment at work, and must themselves set the proper standards of behaviour.
Partnership with Parents and Community ● All parents are encouraged to participate fully in the life of the school. ● Information and materials for parents are accessible in ‘user friendly’ language and in formats other than English, as appropriate. ● Signage around school uses a variety of languages. Monitoring and Evaluation of the Policy ● The policy will be reviewed annually for its effectiveness. ● Students, staff, parents and governors will be consulted to ascertain the effectiveness of the policy.