"Pupils are well prepared to live in modern Britain. Pupils learn about different faiths, and are respectful of others’ beliefs and values. There are many opportunities for pupils to explore British history, and the traditions and cultures represented in British society."

^{Ofsted 2015}

In accordance with our aims we intend to promote quality, creativity and opportunity in all that we do at Oakley Vale.

We will assess current school practices and implement all necessary resulting actions in relation to:

• Gender
• Race
• Disability
• Religious belief
• Age
• Sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity
• Socio-economic background and other protected characteristics

We will promote community cohesion at school comparing our school to its local national contexts implementing all necessary actions in relation to:

• Ethnicity
• Religion or belief and
• Socio economic background

The Equality Act 2010 places two specific duties on schools. We must publish information which shows we have due regard for equalities as defined by the Act and we must publish at least one equality objective.

Information about our school

School SENCO (Special Needs Coordinator): Mrs Becky Annetts

The school has data on its composition broken down by:

• Year group, ethnicity, gender and proficiency in English
• Types of disability and special educational need
• Vulnerable groups of children according to socio-economic need
• Inequalities of outcome and participation connected with ethnicity, gender, disability and with proficiency in English

The school uses data on inequalities of outcome and involvement when setting itself objectives for achievable and measurable improvements. This data is available on request from the school office.

How we chose our equality objectives

Our equality objective-setting process has involved gathering evidence as follows:

• from the monitoring and analysis of pupil progress with a particular focus on children in the groups identified above.
• from the following data – census and Locality team data files, monitoring of Learning and Teaching File, Tracking Pupil Progress meeting File, Vulnerable Pupils information, Parent and child Surveys, minutes of staff meetings and governors’ meetings.

The evidence was then analysed in order to choose objectives that will:

• promote equality of opportunity for members of identified groups
• eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and
• foster good relations between different groups in terms of:
• ethnicity, belief, socio-economic background, gender and gender identity, disability, sexual orientation and age.

Our Priorities 

Priority 1

Staff become role models for promoting equality and diversity and discussing relevant events/issues with class. All members of the school community will feel confident that they have equal opportunities and are free from discrimination and prejudice.

Priority 2

Challenging gender stereotypes by exposing children to literature which represents a range of families. Promotion of Same Families, Different Love posters.

Priority 3

Ensure the families and the children of families for whom English isn’t a first language are not disadvantaged, due to their level of English acquisition.

Priority 4

Track pupil groups (Gender, EAL, SEN, PP) more effectively to ensure that no individual groups fall behind or underachieve. Ensure support and intervention is timely, targeted and relevan.t

Priority 5

To ensure equality and diversity is promoted, understood and embedded throughout the whole curriculum. Taught discretely through SMSC and PSHCE lessons and when studying themes in Humanities and English.

Please see the documents below for further information about the provision for SEND pupils at Oakley Vale School.