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Equality Statement

The Public Sector Equality Duty

We aim to promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, with special emphasis on promoting equality and diversity, and eradicating prejudicial incidents for pupils and staff. 

Our school is committed to not only eliminating discrimination, but also increasing understanding and appreciation for diversity. Christ Church New Malden CofE Primary School is opposed to all forms of prejudice and recognises that children and young people who experience any form of prejudice-related discrimination may fare less well in the education system. 

Our School Context

Christ Church New Malden CofE Primary School is a two form entry primary school with a nursery, based on two sites in New Malden, Kingston upon Thames. We serve a diverse community with 53% of children from minority ethnic groups. This figure is higher than the national average (33.9%). The largest minority group is Korean, although this has decreased over the last 6 years, partly as a consequence of COVID (23% 2016; 18% 2019; 13% in January 2022.) 32% of our pupils speak English as an additional language; again, this figure is higher than the national average (20.9%).

Our mobility has increased over the last three years, as families responded to COVID and now reflects national at 82% stable. Our deprivation index remains low (0.11 2019; national 0.21). The percentage of Pupil Premium is currently 10% Jan 22 (compared with 23% nationally 2019).  

The Equality Act (2010)

The Equality Act (2010) was introduced to ensure protection from discrimination (direct or indirect), harassment and victimisation on the grounds of protected characteristics:

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

For schools, this means that it is unlawful to discriminate against individuals, or treat them less favourably, because of their sex, race, age, disability, religion or belief, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity. The Equality Act (2010) makes it unlawful for responsible body of a school (governing body or local authority) to discriminate against, harass or victimise a pupil or potential pupil:

  • In relation to admissions;
  • In the way it provides education for pupils;
  • In the way it provides pupils access to any benefit, facility or service, or;
  • By excluding a pupil or subjecting them to any other detriment. 

Public Sector Equality Duty

Under the Equality Act (2010), the school is expected to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). This requires us to have due regard to the need to:

  • Eliminate discrimination and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality 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 public organisation, we are required to:

  • Have due regard to the PSED when making decisions, taking actions or developing policy and practice, 
  • Publish information annually to show compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty,
  • Publish objectives which are specific and measurable. 

Our Equality Policy has been written in line with national guidance and contains information about how the school complies with the Public Sector Equality Duty. We also give guidance to staff and the wider school community on our approach to promoting equality. 

Equality Objectives

Our equality objectives reflect the school's priorities and draw upon available data and other evidence. Careful analysis of this is undertaken in order to ensure that we are working to achieve improved outcomes for different groups. 

  • To establish positive, inclusive and consistent behaviour relationships  around the principles of the Rights Respecting Schools Award. These principles will develop a greater understanding of what it means to be respectful and tolerant of others. 
  • To monitor pupil progress and attainment in order to ensure that pupils in vulnerable groups achieve their potential. This will involve analysing assessment data and identifying underlying factors that affect imbalances of attainment in order to provide appropriate support.

Specific tasks relating to these objectives can be found within our school development plan. 

Related Policies

Definitions

Direct discrimination: occurs when one person treats another less favourably, because of a protected characteristic, than they treat - or would treat - other people. 

Indirect discrimination: occurs when a 'provision, criterion or practice' is applied generally but has the effect of putting people with a particular characteristic at a disadvantage when compared to people without that characteristic. 

Harassment: unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic which has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person. 

Victimisation: occurs when a person is treated less favourably than they otherwise would have been because of something they have done ('a protected act') in connection with the Act.