Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Botley
Every child is entitled to receive fair access to the curriculum and school life.
We aim to ensure that every child and teacher is given an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential.
In addition, each individual is entitled to learn, teach or work in a supportive environment and to benefit from the diversity of our school community.
To meet these aims, we are committed to:
- Ensuring equal access and treatment for everyone: We endeavour to achieve inclusion of all children whilst meeting their individual needs.
- A focus on individual progress as the main indicator of success.
- Providing differentiated learning opportunities for all children, including those learning English as an additional language, and providing materials appropriate to children’s interests and abilities. This ensures that all children have full access to the school curriculum.
- Being responsive to changing needs
- Avoiding prejudice by promoting mutual respect and British Values
- Working to an agreed code of conduct which can be modified, monitored and evaluated in accordance with current best practice in the area of equal opportunities.
- Educating and informing children, staff and parents about the issues in this policy
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champions
In February 2023 Botley school launched a working party of staff and parents to discuss aspects of DEI at Botley school. This September (2023) we have launched a pupil DEI Champions group who will meet with the working party to focus on how we can make sure DEI is at the centre of school life here at Botley. This is also part of a much larger Acer Trust commitment to DEI which was launched in September with all staff meeting together for key note speeches.
As part of this launch, pupils from across the trust were interviewed by our CEO Mr Nathan Thomas, and recorded two videos: 'What do we value?' and 'What is not OK?'
The responses are thought provoking and demonstrate how important these issues are for our children. Please use the links below to watch the videos.
Equality Act
The Equality Act 2010 brought together all the legal requirements on equality that the private, public and voluntary sectors need to follow. It affects equality law at work and in delivery all kinds of services and in the context of this policy in all aspects of the provision of an education. Whether at work as an employee or in using a service, the message (or purpose) of the Act is that everyone has the right to be treated fairly at work or when using services.
The Act protects people from discrimination on the basis of certain characteristics and they vary slightly according to whether the person is at work or using a service.
The Public Sector Equality Duty encompasses General and Specific duties in promoting equality across the full range of protected characteristics, namely:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage or Civil Partnership
- Pregnancy and Maternity
- Race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
Age is a protected characteristic within the Equality Act (2010), but not in relation to pupils of any age in a school.
Botley School ensures that no parent, carer, employee or anyone associated with the school is discriminated against because of their age.
Equality of opportunity is a fundamental aspect of the ethos at Botley School. It is the responsibility of the governors, Headteacher and all personnel involved in the school to provide leadership in the development and implementation of effective policies to promote equality of opportunity.
Botley Equality Objectives
Characteristic | Objective | Actions | Success criteria | Lead Responsibility | Review |
Sex | To ensure that boys and girls have equality of opportunities in the classroom, the curriculum and site. | Ensure all staff, parents and children support our school values and British Values as identified by the DfE.
| All the Botley School community feel accepted, and that their identity is celebrated and that they belong in the school, local and global community. All individuals promote and model respect for each other and our rights. Staff, pupil, parent and community voice reflects the inclusive ethos that celebrates diversity and equality in our vision and values. Attainment outcomes for groups is monitored and support established to ensure all groups make good progress. | Senior Leadership Team | Annually |
Race | To have high expectations of all ethnic groups. | If any racist incident occurs, ensure it is thoroughly investigated and perpetrator of abuse receives suitable and age appropriate sanctions and additional educational intervention. Parents are ALWAYS informed. | All the Botley School community feel accepted, and that their identity is celebrated and that they belong in the school, local and global community. All individuals promote and model respect for each other and our rights. They promote and model respect for those of different backgrounds, faiths or cultures. British Values are shared ensuring all the community have a good understanding of what they are and how they are taught in school. Staff, pupil, parent and community voice reflects the inclusive ethos that celebrates diversity and equality in our vision and values. Attainment outcomes for groups is monitored and support established to ensure all groups make good progress. | Senior Leadership Team | Annually |
Disability | To ensure all staff are aware of and understand disabilities; how to identify them and how they can be supported within and beyond Botley School.
To ensure that all disabled pupils, staff and parents or carers have all reasonable adjustments made for them.
| When planning activities, school staff to be aware of all members of their class- including those with non-visible difficulties eg dyslexia friendly classroom. | All the Botley School community feel accepted, and that their identity is celebrated and that they belong in the school, local and global community. All individuals promote and model respect for each other and our rights. Staff, pupil, parent and community voice reflects the inclusive ethos that celebrates diversity and equality in our vision and values. Attainment outcomes for groups monitored and support is established to ensure all groups make good progress. School records (Pupil Profiles, Pupil Premium Record etc.) demonstrate good progress of disabled pupils in all aspects of school life. INSET, staff meetings on disability awareness to widen general knowledge. Disability awareness Individual Care Plan and Risk Assessments to be in classrooms e.g. pupil’s name, access arrangements needed etc. (to be discrete and on a vital need to know basis) | Senior Leadership Team | Annually |
Religion and Belief | To facilitate an open respect for different faiths and beliefs in the school community.
Promote a deep understanding of our pupils in a multi-cultural Britain. | Ensure all staff, parents and children support our school values and British Values as identified by the DfE. | Actively celebrate a diversity of faith / belief events and holidays. All the Botley School community feel accepted, and that their identity is celebrated and that they belong in the school, local and global community. All individuals promote and model respect for each other and our rights. British Values are shared ensuring all the community have a good understanding of what they are and how they are taught in school. Staff, pupil, parent and community voice reflects the inclusive ethos that celebrates diversity and equality in our vision and values. Attainment outcomes for groups monitored and support is established to ensure all groups make good progress. | Senior Leadership Team | Annually |
Sexual Orientation | To ensure that we are accepted as individuals and know that we belong in an open and supportive environment. | Seek advice from CABHS as necessary | All the Botley School community feel accepted, and that their identity is celebrated and that they belong in the school, local and global community. All individuals promote and model respect for each other and our rights. Staff, pupil, parent and community voice reflect the inclusive ethos that celebrates diversity and equality in our vision and values. Attainment outcomes for groups monitored and support is established to ensure all groups make good progress | Senior Leadership Team | Annually |
Gender Reassignment | To ensure that all individuals are celebrated and nurtured. | Seek advice from CABHS If planning refurbishments in the future, ensure consideration of gender-neutral facilities, such as those in EYFS. | All the Botley School community feel accepted, and that their identity is celebrated and that they belong in the school, local and global community. All individuals promote and model respect for each other and our rights. Staff, pupil, parent and community voice reflect the inclusive ethos that celebrates diversity and equality in our vision and values. | Senior Leadership Team | Annually |
Pregnancy and Maternity | To ensure all personnel reflect the duties within the requirement of the Equality Act. | Seek advice from Acer Trust Chief Operations Officer (COO) if needed. | All the Botley School community feel accepted, and that their identity is celebrated and that they belong in the school, local and global community. All individuals promote and model respect for each other and our rights. Staff, pupil, parent and community voice reflects the inclusive ethos that celebrates diversity and equality in our vision and values. Staff are not discriminated against for promotion if they are parents, maternity programmes and KIT days support progression when career gaps are taken. | Senior Leadership Team | Annually |
Age | To ensure that the rights of the individual are celebrated including challenging ageism and discrimination against children’s rights to be heard. | Seek advice from Acer Trust Chief Operations Officer (COO) if needed.
Ensure we remove Diversity/Equality sheet from all applications before shortlisting. | All the Botley School community feel accepted, and that their identity is celebrated and that they belong in the school, local and global community. All individuals promote and model respect for each other and our rights. Staff, pupil, parent and community voice reflect the inclusive ethos that celebrates diversity and equality in our vision and values. | Senior Leadership Team | Annually |
