St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School

Eliminating Discrimination

At St. Mary's, we recognise that all members of the school and our wider community are of equal value. The school is aware of its obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and complies with non-discrimination provisions.

Where relevant, our policies include reference to the importance of avoiding discrimination and other prohibited conduct.

Staff and governors are regularly reminded of their responsibilities under the Equality Act, for example during meetings. Where this has been discussed during a meeting, it is recorded in the meeting minutes.

New staff receive training on the Equality Act as part of their induction, and all staff receive refresher training every September.

The Headteacher is responsible for monitoring equality issues, aided by our equality link governor. They regularly liaise regarding any issues and make senior leaders and governors aware of these as appropriate.

Advancing Equality of Opportunity

Removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people which are connected to a particular characteristic they have (e.g. pupils with disabilities, or gay pupils who are being subjected to homophobic bullying).

Taking steps to meet the particular needs of people who have a particular characteristic (e.g. enabling Muslim pupils to pray at prescribed times).

Encouraging people who have a particular characteristic to participate fully in any activities (e.g. encouraging all pupils to be involved in the full range of school societies).

In fulfilling this aspect of the duty, the school will:

- Publish attainment data each academic year showing how pupils with different characteristics are performing.

- Analyse the above data to determine strengths and areas for improvement, implement actions in response and publish this information.

- Make evidence available identifying improvements for specific groups (e.g. declines in incidents of homophobic or transphobic bullying).

- Publish further data about any issues associated with particular protected characteristics, identifying any issues which could affect our own pupils.

Fostering Good Relations

As a school we believe that should treat each other with care, respect and kindness, and that strong positive relationships make a great school. We aim to foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not share it by:

Promoting tolerance, friendship and understanding of a range of religions and cultures through different aspects of our curriculum. This includes teaching in RE, citizenship and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, but also activities in other curriculum areas. For example, as part of teaching and learning in English/reading, pupils will be introduced to literature from a range of cultures.

Holding assemblies dealing with relevant issues on a regular basis. Pupils will be encouraged to plan and lead such assemblies, and we will also invite external speakers to contribute.

Working with our local community. This includes inviting leaders of local faith groups to speak at assemblies, and organising school trips and activities based around the local community.

Encouraging and implementing initiatives to deal with tensions between different groups of pupils within the school. For example, our school council has representatives from different year groups and is formed of pupils from a range of backgrounds. All pupils are encouraged to participate in the school’s activities, such as sports clubs. We also work with parents to promote knowledge and understanding of different cultures.

We have developed links with people and groups who have specialist knowledge about particular characteristics, which helps inform and develop our approach.

Our PSHE Curriculum

Please see the following link to our PSHE Subject page: https://www.st-marys-clayton-le-moors.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum/our-subjects-in-school/pshe

Please see the following link to our RSE policy page: https://www.st-marys-clayton-le-moors.lancs.sch.uk/policy-documents/curriculum-1

Additional PSHE Links to Equality & Diversity

There are many strands to equality, including: Race, Gender, Religion, Age, Economic Equality, Disabilities and LGBTQ+. To address all of these strands, as part of the work we do in PSHE, we also have a number of EXTRA important days in the calendar which we stop to focus on. These include:

• a Multi-Faiths Week (addressing strand on Religion & Race)
• An RSE Day  (addressing strand on LGBTQ+ where each year focuses on a stop-start stereotype lesson, Race, Religion, Age & Gender)
• a unit on Healthy Relationships  (addressing strand on Gender, Age, Race and Disabilities)
• a British Values Week   (addressing all strands)
• a  unit on Valuing Difference   (addressing all strands)
• a money matters workshop   (addressing strand on economic equality)

As well as this, we also have 'Citizenship Think Deeply Days'. A selection of these include:

• International Day of Sign Languages - (addressing strand on disabilities)
• International Day of Older Persons - (addressing strand on Age)
• Religious Festivals eg. Hanukkah & Ramadan - (addressing strand on Religion)
• World Religion Day - (addressing strand on Religion)
• International Women's Day - (addressing strand on Gender)

Black History Topic this Autumn Term 2022

All members of our school community have a responsibility to treat each other with respect, to feel valued, and to speak out if they witness or are subject to any inappropriate language or behavior. In Autumn 2020, in response to the continuing issue of racism in modern day Britain we decided that as a school, we needed to address this and devoted a whole term to learning about inspirational role models who have fought for equality. In Autumn 2022, we again focused on a Black History topic for the whole of the autumn term, learning about such important historical figures as Mary Seacole, Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King. 

Black History/God Loves Us All Equally Topic 2020 -https://www.st-marys-clayton-le-moors.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum/curriculum-subjects/2020-21-autumn-term-god-loves-us-all-equally

Black History/God Loves Ua All Equally Topic 2022 - https://www.st-marys-clayton-le-moors.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum/curriculum-subjects/autumn-2022-god-loves-us-all-equally-ks-2

Multi Faiths Week

Our annual Multi-Faiths Week focuses on Islam and Judaism. This allows us to tackle issues of Islamaphobia and Anti-Semitism. We have invited speakers into school to help us deliver these messages and our children also get the opportunity to learn first-hand with a visit to the local Mosque. 

https://www.st-marys-clayton-le-moors.lancs.sch.uk/regift-team/multi-faiths-week-events

British Values Week

This was a hugely successful week that children in our Equalities Team/GIFT Team helped to set up in school. 

https://www.st-marys-clayton-le-moors.lancs.sch.uk/our-mission-1/british-values

Children's Equality Team

Our GIFT Team also form our Equality Team. We will meet regularly to discuss all matters of equality and diversity at school. These pupils also suggest ways we can set up activities in school that will make sure that every one of our children is treated equally at St. Mary's. Please see the link below to the British Values Week that children planned and led in school in 2022. 

https://www.st-marys-clayton-le-moors.lancs.sch.uk/our-mission-1/british-values

Providing Time For Prayer for Members of our School Family from Other Faiths

Members of all backgrounds and faiths are given a warm welcome to our school. Members of the Muslim Faith regularly use an area of school to pray daily.  

Special Guest Speakers

It is very important to us at St. Mary's that children get first hand opportunities to meet and listen to people who can talk to children about their own life experiences. For example, in March 2022 on 'Wheelchair Users Day', and in December 2022, Reese Taylor came to school to talk about living life in a wheelchair to classes in school.